Thousands of people from over 30 citizen groups picketed the Chinese consulate in Makati City Wednesday to protest China’s occupation of Philippine reefs and shoals, and demanding that Beijing act responsibly and follow the rule of law as a case filed by Manila gets under way at a UN tribunal.
The Chinese embassy closed its consulate for the day as a result of the rally, which coincided with similar protests around the world where July 24 is being observed as the “global day of protest” against China’s aggressive assertion of sovereignty in disputed waters in resource-rich South China Sea, which Manila calls West Philippine Sea.
The protests came a day after China announced it was launching its integrated Coast Guard service in order to better conduct maritime policing in areas it claimed, as a result of which more heretofore unarmed civilian vessels will now be armed. The expected escalation of Chinese Coast Guard operations is seen to heighten tensions between the Asian giant and its neighbors in Southeast and East Asia.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila released a note that it will be closing its visa section in Makati City on Wednesday for “security reasons”.
Outside, the alliance of 30 groups explained the point of the protests: “Whatever our political or ideological differences, now is the time to stand as one nation so we can show to the Chinese government and to the world that we are united and we are determined to defend our country’s honor, dignity and sovereignty, ” former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III said.
China controls 3 PH reefs
Under China’s so-called “cabbage strategy,” Chinese ships now practically control three Philippine reefs– Panganiban (Mischief), Panatag (Scarborough) and Ayungin, where three Chinese ships have been deployed to enforce a three-layered security.
Alunan, former Paranaque City Rep. Roilo Golez and Nick Sotelo are the co-convenors of the Western Philippine Sea Coalition, which organized today’s rally in the Philippines.
Golez, head of the “Di Ka Pasisiil” Movement and a former naval officer and National Security Adviser, said that “today’s rally is just the start of a series of activities here and abroad aimed at drawing together the diverse sectors of Philippine society and engaging them in the campaign to thwart China’s illegal designs on the country’s territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone.”
Besides shining a light on China’s illegal push into the West Philippine Sea, Alunan said the coalition also wants to project that “we are not against the Chinese people. In fact, we would like to reach out to the Chinese people with whom we have had a long history of amity and cooperation even before Magellan encountered LapuLapu in 1521. We are not against you. We are against your government’s lawless policy of intrusion, occupation, theft of natural resources and intimidation in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).“
He added: “we are asking China to be a good neighbor, to avoid unilateral action on disputed waters, and to stop its provocations. We are asking China to respect the rule of law, particularly the Law of the Sea to which it is a signatory. We are asking China to take the peaceful path toward dispute resolution to prove its claims before ITLOS.”
For his part, Golez said the rallies are meant “to show that we fully support the government’s goal to modernize and professionalize our military forces. We must attain the means to present a credible defense posture at the soonest possible time that would enable us to protect our EEZ, defend our territorial integrity and uphold national honor.”
Similar rallies around the world
Meanwhile,, similar rallies were also being held in a global protest action staged by the U.S. Pinoys for Good Government (USP4GG) in several cities in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and by other Filipino organizations in the cities of Rome, Copenhagen, London, Adelaide, Brisbane, Vienna and in Cambodia.
Other speakers at the Makati City rally were Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, former Akbayan Rep. Riza Hontiveros, Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement, Gibby Gorres of the Student Alliance of the Philippines, Bishop Mike delos Reyes of the Philippine for Jesus’ Movement, and columnist Jarius Bondoc of the Philippine Star.
U.S. based Loida Nicolas Lewis, chairwoman of USP4GG, sent a pre-taped message aired during the rally.
Filipino musicians and artists also performed at the rally.
The mass action was joined in by: Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO), Di KaPasisiil Movement (DKPM), Akbayan, Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabayan (RAM), Civil Defense Action Group (CDAG), Student Alliance of the Philippines (SAP), UP Women Lawyers (UPWL), Guardian s Stop Global Warming Foundation (GSGWF), Spirit Of EDSA Foundation (SOEF), Muslim Coalition, Zonta Manila, UP Pi Omicron Fraternity, Guardians, Rockwell Forum, Gawad Kalinga Expats, SHED Microfinance Group, Deborah Youth, Pinoy Fishmart Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Cavitenong Makabayan, Rotarians of Bikol, CIBAC, People's Power Volunteers for Reform (PPRV), Friendscare, Theresa Makabayan of St. Theresa’s College, Tsinoy Tayo, Ateneo for Better Philippines, Sheld, World Vision, Pillars in Media, Las Pinas Coalition, Gising Kabataan of San Juan, Bulacan Coalition, Expats in the Philippines, and Lewis College.
The protesters also counted religious organizations such as the CamSur All Pastors Group (CSAPG), March For Jesus Movement (MFJM), Jesus Is Lord Manila and Bulacan Chapters, Philippines for Zion, Prayer for Jerusalem, Grain New Wine and Oil Ministries, Shofar Blowers of Grain New Wine and Oil Ministries (GNWOM) , Word for the World Makati City, World for Christ Fellowship Laguna, Christians in Media, Every Nation Church of Vietnam, and members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, and El Shaddai.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/67116/protest-vs-china-bullying-shuts-down-consulate-in-central-business-district
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