[R-G] Philippines: Thousands march against Arroyo

[ProletarianNews]

Ananova. 21 October 2002. Thousands march against Philippine
anti-terrorism plan.

MANILA -- Thousands of left-wing protesters have held a peaceful march
through the capital of the Philippines.

They say the government's proposed anti-terror measures could threaten
human rights and democracy.

About 3,000 people marched to the presidential palace and then to the US
embassy carrying anti-US placards.

They dragged a mock military tank ridden by an effigy of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, portrayed as a warrior brandishing an M-16
assault rifle.

Protest leader Renato Reyes, said: "While we recognise the problem of
terrorism, we think it could not be solved by limiting rights and by
repression. That would lead to discontent, and terrorists could exploit
massive restiveness."

Republican Raul Gonzales has filed a bill seeking to grant Mrs
Macapagal-Arroyo her still-unspecified emergency powers to deal with
terrorism and any fallout from a possible US military strike on Iraq.

Arroyo is also considering a national ID system, amongst other measures.

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ProletarianNews
http://www.utopia2000.org
with photo