MANILA -- Over 1,000 Filipinos marched to the US embassy in downtown
Manila last March 18 as part of the weekend's global days of action
against the war in Iraq.
The local groups marched as part of the Iraq Solidarity Campaign (ISC), an
umbrella anti-war coalition composed of peace groups, trade unions,
farmers, fishers, urban poor, women's and other mass organizations,
NGOs, academics, etc.
The protesters called for the US and other coalition troops'
withdrawal from Iraq. Among the other banners that were carried read,
"US out of RP (Republic of the Philippines) now! RP out of US war camp
now!," "After Iraq, who will be next?," and "US -- keep your killing
machines off the Philippines!"
The demonstrators demanded a stop to military offensives in the
Southern Philippines and an end to US involvement in local conflicts.
They also opposed a proposed anti-terror bill and national ID system
in Congress.
Joining the march was an Iraqi who flew straight from Basra, Farouk
Isma'al of the General Union of Oil Employees in Iraq. He called on
Filipinos to add to the global pressure on the United States to end
the occupation of his country. Isma'al had meetings with local
anti-war activists, trade unions, and Muslim groups.
The march was part of a week-long series of anti-war events organized
by the ISC that included the launch of a "100+ Filipinos against the
War in Iraq" aimed at showcasing the breadth of anti-war sentiment in the country.
There will also be an interfaith gathering against the war on March
21, to highlight the unity of different religious groups and sects
calling for peace
