Photos | Aquino’s #APEC2015 repression breeds resistance
Save for outright declaration of war, President Aquino tried everything to dampen protests against the APEC summit. Obviously, it did not work.
President Aquino’s state security forces did all it can to prevent protests: declare a “no permit, no rally” policy, set up police barricades across much of the city of Manila, block and, in some cases, even detain protesters from the provinces. By the evening of November 18, cops had blocked all exits from the Baclaran Redemptorish Church, where 700 Lumad and Mindanaoans had camped out after being driven away from freedom park Liwasang Bonifacio. It deployed hundreds of cops from different provinces (how’s the crime incidence in Tarlac or Bulacan, by the way?) to Liwasang Bonifacio.
Aquino still failed to dampen the protests.
An estimated 10,000 people showed up–out of nowhere, it seemed–in Taft Avenue on the morning of November 19, and marched from Kalaw to Buendia, where a phalanx of armed PNP Special Action Force blocked the way. The protesters proceeded to march along Buendia, until they were stopped by a throng of anti-riot cops and container vans near the corner of Roxas Bouleverd and Buendia.
Clearly, Aquino never heard of the adage “repression breeds resistance”. The more he tried to stifle dissent, the more he invites it, especially with a highly unpopular and ultra-expensive event as the hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) economic leaders’ summit.
Thousands appeared–apparently out of nowhere–and began massing up in the corner of Kalaw and Taft, before marching to Buendia. Marjo Malubay
Protesters brought placards made of plywood that double as shields for protection. Darius Galang
Workers point out that APEC has been a venue for monopoly capitalists to push for even cheaper and more docile labor. Jaze Marco
Protesters reach the corner of Buendia and Roxas Boulevard only to be blocked by cops. Darius Galang
Protesters help out a fellow activist hurt during police attempts to disperse the rallies. Mykel Andrada
As cops push, protesters push back. Boy Bagwis
Photo by Jaze Marco
Photo by Boy Bagwis
Photo by Boy Bagwis
Phalanx of anti-riot cops were standard scene in Metro Manila during the last two days. Marjo Malubay
As cops try to push against the protesters, Army soldiers take pictures and look on. One soldier, however, wearing a helmet, stood among the cops (in the middle). KR Guda
Activists, many of them youths, successfully stood their ground against the better equipped and trained cops. KR Guda
The cops then began hosing the protesters with water cannons. KR Guda
Cops also began using their truncheons. Pher Pasion
Photo by Pher Pasion
Photo by KR Guda
Photo by KR Guda
An icon of the Palestinian liberation movement, Leila Khaled, speaks at the program in solidarity with the anti-APEC protesters. Mykel Andrada
Protesters burn an effigy depicting US imperialism as a huge vulture. Darius Galang
