GABRIELA USA DENOUNCES VIOLENT DISPERSAL OF NATIONAL MINORITIES
GABRIELA USA denounces the violent dispersal of the protest action led by National Minorities at the US Embassy in Manila on the morning of 10/19.
SANDUGO, a newly formed alliance of National Minorities (peoples indigenous to the Philippines) fighting against militarization of their communities and foreign plunder of their resources held a peaceful protest outside of the US Embassy. At the end of their rally and as groups were preparing to leave, they were met by members of Philippine National Police (PNP) who began spraying tear gas, attacking protesters with truncheons and arresting resisting protesters, including minors. The violence continued as a police van aggressively drove into the contingent several times, running over several. At least 50 people were injured.
The violent dispersal shows the fascist and mercenary character of the PNP.
GABRIELA USA is outraged by this brazen act of violence and demands that Col. Marcelino Pedrozo and his policemen be held accountable for the violent dispersal of a peaceful assembly of national minorities calling for land, rights and just peace.
GABRIELA New York 