01:30Philippines: "US troops out" - Protesters in Manila denounce US security agreement
Protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Manila, Tuesday, to denounce the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, ahead of the Philippine Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the US-Philippines security agreement, which gives the US wide access to military bases throughout the country.
Protesters held banners reading "Down with US imperialism," and "US troops out now," as a mock US flag was burned. The national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students Charisse Banez stated that "Barack Obama and other heads of state of advanced capitalist countries want to plunder our natural resources and cheap labour and treat our country as captive market for their products," adding "hands-off the Philippines. We are not for sale."
The Philippine Supreme Court is expected to decide on the constitutionality of the US-Philippines EDCA security agreement on Tuesday. The agreement gives the United States wide access to a number of military bases throughout the Philippines as well as approval to build more military and storage facilities.
Obama is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila on November 18-19. According to a senior government official, a decision by the Supreme Court is expected to give a green light to the security agreement before the APEC summit convenes.
01:30Protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Manila, Tuesday, to denounce the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, ahead of the Philippine Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the US-Philippines security agreement, which gives the US wide access to military bases throughout the country.
Protesters held banners reading "Down with US imperialism," and "US troops out now," as a mock US flag was burned. The national chairperson of the League of Filipino Students Charisse Banez stated that "Barack Obama and other heads of state of advanced capitalist countries want to plunder our natural resources and cheap labour and treat our country as captive market for their products," adding "hands-off the Philippines. We are not for sale."
The Philippine Supreme Court is expected to decide on the constitutionality of the US-Philippines EDCA security agreement on Tuesday. The agreement gives the United States wide access to a number of military bases throughout the Philippines as well as approval to build more military and storage facilities.
Obama is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila on November 18-19. According to a senior government official, a decision by the Supreme Court is expected to give a green light to the security agreement before the APEC summit convenes.