MANILA, 29 March 2003 — Muslim, Christian and leftist demonstrators took to the streets in Manila financial district of Makati yesterday, demanding an end to the US-led war on Iraq and urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to stop supporting Washington.
Many of the demonstrators carried white peace signs as they marched down the Makati business district’s Ayala Avenue, some singing American folk singer Bob Dylan’s famous peace anthem “Blown’ in the Wind.”
Several bishops from the Apostolic Catholic Church flashed peace signs as protesters chanted “Cry of the people: peace!” and “US imperialist — No. 1 terrorist.”
“Something is terribly wrong with this war,” said left-wing activitst Rep. Satur Ocampo, who called the conflict illegal.
“It has not been given the express sanction of the Security Council of the United Nations,” he said. “And it’s immoral in the sense that the United States and Britain are using all kinds of forces in order to depose (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein and take over the whole of the country.”
Arroyo, among the staunchest Asian supporters of the US-led war on terrorism, said yesterday that she also wants peace.
She announced shortly after the attack on Iraq began that her government was part of the “coalition of the willing” to back it, and expressed political and moral support for US efforts to disarm Saddam. “We support all meaningful calls for peace, but we hope this will not be exploited for political ends, for dividing our people,” she said. “We are for peace but not a peace enforced by fear. We are for peace, but for peace that does not allow the spread of terrorism.”
