[Muanet] Aust Embassy's security guards attack Filippino demonstrators

[Chris Latham]

http://kilusangmayouno.org/solidarity-action-attacked-embassy-buildings-security-guards


  Solidarity action attacked by embassy-building's security guards

Submitted by Intl Department on Thu, 2006-11-30 15:14. :: Solidarity 
<http://kilusangmayouno.org/solidarity>

Today, a group of unionists belonging to the militant labor center 
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held a protest action in front of the Australian 
embassy in Makati City to show their solidarity with Australian workers 
who today held a massive mobilization against the new Industrial 
Relations laws. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) expected 
500 000 participants to a rally in Melbourne and other locations all 
over the country.

When protestors gathered together on the sidewalk in front of the 
Australian embassy, security guards of the RCBC Plaza building and 
Philippine National Police (PNP) began immediately harassing the 
protestors. After some minutes, the security guards equipped themselves 
with shields and batons. Some of the guards were armed with M16 rifles. 
They started beating the protestors and tried to push them away from the 
public sidewalk onto the road and into the traffic.

Only after intervention of Ms Linda Wirth, director of the ILO office in 
Manila, who has her office in the same building as the Australian 
embassy, did the guards back off and our peaceful protest action could 
be held. Speeches were made and protestors held placards with slogans 
“Workchoices is no choice” and “Repeal Workchoices”.

“We are particularly shocked that private security guards, working 
indirectly under the responsibility of the Australian embassy, tried to 
suppress our action. We thought a country like Australia upholds the 
democratic right to protest peaceful, instead of repressing our protest 
just like we are used under the forces of the Arroyo regime. We hope 
this was not the intention of the Ambassador or the Australian 
government. Hopefully next time we can have a peaceful protest action in 
front of the Australian embassy without being harassed.” said KMU 
chairperson Elmer Labog.




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