Anti-Obama protesters clash with police in Manila
Philippine police armed with truncheon, shields and water hose on April 23 clashed with more than 100 left-wing activists who rallied at the US Embassy in Manila to oppose an April 28-29 visit by President Barack Obama and a looming pact that will increase the American military presence in the Philippines.
Riot policemen blocked the flag-waving activists near the heavily fortified embassy compound but the protesters slipped past them, sparking a brief scuffle in view of motorists stuck in traffic.
The police sprayed the protesters with water from a fire truck to push them away. A police officer was punched in the face in the melee but no arrests were made. Some of the protesters carried paper US flags with the message: “Obama, not welcome.”
Obama arrives in Manila on April 28 for an overnight stop after visiting Japan, South Korea and Malaysia on an Asian trip where he is expected to reassure allied nations enmeshed in long-running territorial disputes with an increasingly assertive China.
The US and the Philippines, which are treaty allies, have been scrambling to overcome differences to finalise a new security accord in time for Obama’s visit.
The accord will allow more US troops, aircraft and ships to be temporarily stationed in selected Philippine military camps as a counterweight to China and as a standby disaster-response force. About 500 American soldiers have been based in the southern Philippines since 2002 to provide anti-terrorism training and intelligence to Filipino troops battling Al Qaida-linked militants.
[caption id="attachment_22451" align="alignleft" width="252"] Source: Asahi Shimbun[/caption] Philippine police armed with truncheon, shields and water hose on April 23 clashed with more than 100 left-wing activists who rallied at the US Embassy in Manila to oppose an April 28-29 visit by President Barack Obama and a looming pact that will increase the American military presence in the Philippines. Riot policemen blocked the flag-waving activists near the heavily fortified embassy compound but the protesters slipped past them, sparking a brief scuffle in view of motorists stuck in traffic. The police sprayed the protesters with water from a fire truck to push...
Philippine police armed with truncheon, shields and water hose on April 23 clashed with more than 100 left-wing activists who rallied at the US Embassy in Manila to oppose an April 28-29 visit by President Barack Obama and a looming pact that will increase the American military presence in the Philippines.
Riot policemen blocked the flag-waving activists near the heavily fortified embassy compound but the protesters slipped past them, sparking a brief scuffle in view of motorists stuck in traffic.
The police sprayed the protesters with water from a fire truck to push them away. A police officer was punched in the face in the melee but no arrests were made. Some of the protesters carried paper US flags with the message: “Obama, not welcome.”
Obama arrives in Manila on April 28 for an overnight stop after visiting Japan, South Korea and Malaysia on an Asian trip where he is expected to reassure allied nations enmeshed in long-running territorial disputes with an increasingly assertive China.
The US and the Philippines, which are treaty allies, have been scrambling to overcome differences to finalise a new security accord in time for Obama’s visit.
The accord will allow more US troops, aircraft and ships to be temporarily stationed in selected Philippine military camps as a counterweight to China and as a standby disaster-response force. About 500 American soldiers have been based in the southern Philippines since 2002 to provide anti-terrorism training and intelligence to Filipino troops battling Al Qaida-linked militants.
