Bayan vows peaceful protests during summit

Bayan Muna vowed peaceful protests during the ASEAN Summit during a meeting with Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the police and the military yesterday night to discuss their protest activities and the treatment of authorities of protesters.

This after the statement of Police Regional Office-7 chief Silverio Alarcio that the police will be implementing a "no permit-no rally policy" during the summit and will disperse those without permits.

"Since August, we have been having regular communication with Mayor Tom and we assure him that we would be conducting peaceful protests. We assure that if there would be confrontations and provocations, it will not come from us," Bayan regional secretary general Arman Perez said.

Following Alarcio's statement, Perez said he immediately requested Osmeña to facilitate a dialogue between them, the police and military. The mayor offered his residence to be the venue of the meeting between the militants and the authorities.

Bayan and its allied groups will start their protests on December 10, to commemorate the 58th year of the universal declaration of human rights.

On this day, hundreds of protesters are expected to join the "people's protest" that will start at 9 a.m. at Fuente Osmeña circle and march towards the Malacañang sa Sugbu where the rally proper will take place.

On the morning of December 11, Bayan and its affiliate organizations will also stage a "people's march" at the Cebu International Convention Center, which will be the main venue of the 12th ASEAN Summit.

Perez said they expect some 5,000 protesters from different organizations under Bayan to participate in the rally. He added that about 1,000 of these are from different parts of the country here just to participate in the protest. Some 100 militants from oustide the country are also expected to join the rallies.

Perez said that their protest activities will focus on national sovereignty and patrimony, including political killings and human rights violations.

After December 11, he said they will be conducting their own "organizational meetings and conferences" and people's action.

Militants will culminate their protest activities on December 14 with a peace concert at the Fuente Osmeña circle.

"We are privileged that Mayor Tommy allowed us to use the Fuente Osmeña as our venue. We compromise that whatever activities we will do, it will be peaceful and orderly," Perez said. - Wenna A. Berondo