Militants plan protest ahead of The Hague West PH Sea ruling

From InterAksyon (Jul 11): Militants plan protest ahead of The Hague West PH Sea ruling



File photograph by Bernard Testa, InterAksyon

In time for the decision to be handed down by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague regarding the territorial dispute over the South China Sea, militant groups will stage a protest in front of the Chinese Consulate in Makati City, while another group will gather in the City of Manila to await the historic decision.

"We are very eager for a positive outcome. We are confident the arbitration court will favor the Philippines and we can disprove China's irrational claim in our territory," Salvador France, vice-chairperson of the fishermen group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya-Pilipinas), said.

Pamalakaya will join the broad patriotic alliance Pilipinong Nagkakaisa Para sa Soberanya (P1NAS) in a protest at the Chinese Consulate as a form of "pressure" to China to comply with the international court's decision.

"China by hook or by crook must immediately stop their reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea, and pack up and leave if the arbitration favors the Philippine claim over the disputed waters. The Philippines, in all aspects, has a firm hold on its claim on the West Philippine Sea, whether it is political, legal or historical means," France said.

Pamalakaya also called the attention of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay regarding his statement about the sharing of resources with China in the West Philippine Sea, which implies entering into an agreement with China and other claimant countries of a joint exploration and utilization of resources.

"We remind Secretary Yasay about the possible implications of his position, which could lead to a win-lose situation between China and Philippines," France said.

"Whatever the outcome will be, we should remain steadfast on our position that the West Philippine Sea is rightfully ours," he added.

A separate gathering of over 200 people will be held at the coast of Manila Bay, where they are expected to release balloons bearings the colors of the Philippine flag when the decision is announced.

Among the groups that will be represented in the gathering are the US Pinoys for Good Governance, Marcha Kontra Tsina, Vietnamese Community in the Philippines, Kalayaan Atin Ito, Hope Inc. Knights of Columbus, Akbayan, Guardians' Magistrate for Democracy International, WPS Youth Movement and Filipinos Unite.

"The Philippine victory in the case against China over the West Philippine Sea belongs to both the Philippines and the world. This is the first time a legal case over a territorial dispute was launched against China, and for the first time they will lose," Vonz Santos, founder of Filipinos Unite and representative of US Pinoys for Good Governance.

"For the Philippines, we will celebrate a ruling that reinforces our right over our own resources within the exclusive economic zone, which includes both our fertile fishing grounds as well as the trillions of dollars worth of oil and natural gas which could mean exponential growth for the country," he added.




http://interaksyon.com/article/130218/militants-plan-protest-ahead-of-the-hague-west-ph-sea-ruling