Oust Estrada Protesters Assail Abuses Against the Filipino People

New York- Protest confronted Philippine President Joseph Estrada as he spoke at a lavish $100 per plate dinner dance at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel last Saturday, July 29. From the Philippine Consulate, protesters made their way down Fifth Avenue chanting: "Hey hey, ho ho, US-Erap's got to go!", "Stop the bombing in Mindanao NOW, NOW!" , "US bombs, US planes, no killing in our name!", and "Sobra ng pahirap, patalsikin si Erap!"

At the front of the march to the Waldorf-Astoria were the dancers of PANATA, a New York-based cultural alliance who enhanced the chanting with the beat of their gongs. Protesters were Filipinos, Filipino-Americans, and activists of various nationalities and ethnicities showing support and solidarity with the people of the Philippines who live under the tyranny of the US-backed Estrada regime. The protest was organized by the NY-based Coalition to Oust the US-Backed Estrada Regime.

President Estrada just received $100 million in military hardware to fund his all-out war policy against the Moro people of Mindanao. This includes refurbished military helicopters, boats, and trucks. He also received $20 million in food aid for the victims of his all-out war who now include over 800,000 displaced civilians.

"The $100 million in military aid comes from US taxpayer dollars and will be used to increase the suffering of the Filipino people," said Amanda Vender of the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines, (NISPOP). "This funding has served to strengthen our resolve to fight the Estrada's regime and US intervention, economic and military control of the Philippines."

Police and Secret Service agents guarded the Waldorf Astoria and made every effort to limit the democratic right to demonstrate. Protesters were blocked off by police fences a block away from the hotel and were only allowed to walk by the hotel once to bring their message. However, after the police thought that the protest was over and went home, protesters were able to circle the hotel once more. "Time and time again the US police and military act as agents of the State to defend dictators and big business against the people. This is just like in the Philippines where on July 27, police forces crushed demonstrations at Estrada's State of the Nation Address in Manila. When the right to voice one's opinion is suppressed this signifies growing fascism," said Riya Ortiz of the MAKABAYAN Youth Collective.

A large portion of Estrada's visit was devoted to meetings with foreign investors, information technology and garment industry leaders to encourage their investment and exploitation of Filipino workers in the Philippines. "President Estrada spent most of his time dining with these investors at extravagant restaurants such as Peter Luger Steak House and Smith & Wollensky Steak House," said Robert Roy of the Philippine Forum. "He was peddling Filipinos who are forced to sell their labor at less than $5.00 a day, not even the price of Erap's soda. This is an insult to the Filipino people who are forced to go abroad in search for work that will enable them to feed their families."

The Coalition to Oust the US-Backed Estrada Regime will continue its education and organizing activities as President Estrada is due back in NY in September for the UN Millenium Summit. The Summit will also be met by thousands of protesters from around the world demanding an end to US imperialist globalization and an unjust world order as enforced by the United Nations.

The Coalition to Oust the US-Backed Estrada Regime is made of NY-based groups: The MAKABAYAN Youth Collective, Gabriela Network (NY), the Filipino Workers Center, the Philippine Forum and the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines.