By Jong Pairez

Note: this is the edited version (July 14, 2008)

8 July 2008 UPDATE: Silent Protest In Manila Bashed G8, Autonomous Activists Denounced Police Violence In Japan

MANILA, Philippines-- Anti-G8 protesters from various autonomous groups and collectives held silent protest infront Japanese Embassy in Manila, Tuesday noon, denouncing police violence and corporate free trade during the 34th G8 Summit in Japan.

G8 protesters attempted also to hand-out a letter of protest to Japanese Ambassador in the Philippines Makoto Katsura, but the combined security guards and police denied them the effort to do so. Telling the protesters the ploy of imposing bureaucratic processes in handing out a document.

Despite the repressive measures the Authorities had done, the protesters continued their non-violent form of protest until everyone dispersed peacefully.

As the G8 Summit in Japan continues, horrible reports of police violence has been committed already since the week before G8 formally started, namely, injuring a peaceful sound truck driver and arresting a Reuters journalist. Not to mention also the illegal detention of more or less 40 Korean peasants and other Foreigners without any legal charges. “Reports of excessive force imposed against legitimate dissent by police authorities is very unusual to a country who practices compassion according to Buddhist teachings”, says Jean Makisig from Dream Bureau- a situationist group and ice cream enthusiasts.

“This portrayal of terrorism by Japanese authorities only further adds to the already elitist and authoritarian image of the G8, worst than the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda.”, says the Letter of Protest.

This elitist image of G8 reflects on the bilateral trade agreement between Japan and the Philippines under the neoliberal JPEPA, which allows toxic waste to enter the country, in exchange of Filipino caregivers and nurses, as part among varieties of unfair trade policies. The Pinagkaisahan Collective from Bulacan laments this unfair trade agreement by saying, "Our country is not for sale, our country is not your toxic dump site."

In a statement by Aklas Laban Sa G8 (Resistance Against G8)- a network of activists campaigning against G8, they have further explained the effects of neo-liberalism inherent to G8 that, "The influence of the G8 can be best seen in the localities and communities where the most vulnerable population of the world is located. The destruction of the natural environment and exhaustion of the natural resources is basically caused by the economy of scale and competition framework of the mainstream economy, under the leadership of the rich nations particularly of the G8."

The Group of Eight (G8) is an international forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G8 can refer to the member states or to the annual summit meeting of the G8 heads of government. This 34th G8 Summit in Japan is held on top of a mountain lake in Toyako, Hokkaido, which is far from the people that hides behind gates that cost billions of dollars. “This is how the group of eight rich countries in the world uphold their global dominance over poor countries”, explained Jean Makisig, “Controlling everything from behind a secluded garrison”, he adds.

Groups and Collectives who participated the protest are Pinagkaisahan Collective, United for Peace Collective, Local Anarchist Network, Manila Indymedia, Collective of Anarchists in Bulacan, Anarchist Initiative for Direct Democracy and NonCollective. ###

Story and Photos by Jong Pairez
Manila Indymedia

source:
Aklas Laban Sa G8
 http://linux7.sanpal.co.jp/no-g8/?q=en/node/60

Japan Indymedia
 http://japan.indymedia.org/newswire/display/4617/index.php

Letter of Protest, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines
 http://manila.indymedia.org/en/2008/07/669.html

Keywords: Direct Action, Economy, Human Rights,