Hundreds of Filipino activists protest against ASEAN summit

CEBU, Philippines (AP) - Beating drums and chanting slogans, hundreds of Filipino activists marched in central Cebu city on Saturday to voice concern about a plan by Southeast Asian leaders to adopt stronger counterterrorism measures. The left-wing protesters said they fear the bolstered regional anti-terror co-operation, which is to be finalized by the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations later Saturday, will lead to an increase in human rights violations. They also objected to trade liberalization advocated by the bloc, saying it will damage local industries, mainly fisheries.

"A majority of leaders of ASEAN are human rights violators," said Imelda Tabiando, 39, a local activist.

She said the proposed counterterrorism measures could be used to clamp down on government critics.

A draft of the accord calls on the countries to improve cross-border co-operation to prevent attacks, share intelligence and training, curb terror financing and rehabilitate convicted terrorists to prevent repeat attacks.

One of the protest organizers, Jaime Paglidalan, said the protest, which gathered about 300 people, aims to expose "the issues and demands of the Filipino people."

"We are now opposing the U.S. war on terror because the U.S. is attacking the national liberation movements in different countries," he said.

"We want the ASEAN leaders to uphold our national sovereignty and our national patrimony," he said.

Chanting "U.S. imperialist, No. 1 terrorist," the activists demanded the United States pull its troops out of Southeast Asia. The Philippines is one of the region's staunchest U.S. allies and thousands of U.S. troops train local forces to battle al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's south.

The protesters carried 2.5-metre-tall effigies of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President George W. Bush, which they later planned to burn.

Some of them lay on the ground, pumping their fists in the air and shouting: "Down with U.S."

Unlike Friday, when police dispersed a similar group and detained for questioning two men and their driver, officers stood by in the downtown Cebu park but did not intervene.

National police chief Oscar Calderon has banned rallies near the summit venues for security reasons.

But Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmena, who showed up at the rally, said he will not allow police to break up the rally.

"I definitely support democracy and people should be allowed to express what they feel, regardless of the difference of opinion," he said.

© The Canadian Press, 2007