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<P><FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="http://kilusangmayouno.org/solidarity-action-attacked-embassy-buildings-security-guards">http://kilusangmayouno.org/solidarity-action-attacked-embassy-buildings-security-guards</A><BR>
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Solidarity action attacked by embassy-building's security guards<BR>
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Submitted by Intl Department on Thu, 2006-11-30 15:14. :: Solidarity<BR>
<<A HREF="http://kilusangmayouno.org/solidarity">http://kilusangmayouno.org/solidarity</A>><BR>
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Today, a group of unionists belonging to the militant labor center<BR>
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held a protest action in front of the Australian<BR>
embassy in Makati City to show their solidarity with Australian workers<BR>
who today held a massive mobilization against the new Industrial<BR>
Relations laws. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) expected<BR>
500 000 participants to a rally in Melbourne and other locations all<BR>
over the country.<BR>
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When protestors gathered together on the sidewalk in front of the<BR>
Australian embassy, security guards of the RCBC Plaza building and<BR>
Philippine National Police (PNP) began immediately harassing the<BR>
protestors. After some minutes, the security guards equipped themselves<BR>
with shields and batons. Some of the guards were armed with M16 rifles.<BR>
They started beating the protestors and tried to push them away from the<BR>
public sidewalk onto the road and into the traffic.<BR>
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Only after intervention of Ms Linda Wirth, director of the ILO office in<BR>
Manila, who has her office in the same building as the Australian<BR>
embassy, did the guards back off and our peaceful protest action could<BR>
be held. Speeches were made and protestors held placards with slogans<BR>
“Workchoices is no choice” and “Repeal Workchoices”.<BR>
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“We are particularly shocked that private security guards, working<BR>
indirectly under the responsibility of the Australian embassy, tried to<BR>
suppress our action. We thought a country like Australia upholds the<BR>
democratic right to protest peaceful, instead of repressing our protest<BR>
just like we are used under the forces of the Arroyo regime. We hope<BR>
this was not the intention of the Ambassador or the Australian<BR>
government. Hopefully next time we can have a peaceful protest action in<BR>
front of the Australian embassy without being harassed.” said KMU<BR>
chairperson Elmer Labog.<BR>
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