Eid Mubarak 2014 R F L VISUAL CARE OPTICAL CLINIC AND CONTACT LENS CENTER San Jose Road Zamboanga City Telephone Number (062) 992-4607 Founded 2006
mindanaoexaminer.com
FOR ADVERTISEMENTS, PLEASE CALL (062) 9925480
P10 July 28-Aug. 3, 2014
Residents of Marawi City march in protest to Israeli attacks on Palestine. (Photos courtesy of Najib Zacaria through Drieza Lininding)
T
housands of Muslims and Christians in the southern Philippines continue to protest Israel’s massive military actions against Palestine which had already killed more than 700 innocent civilians, including women and children in what locals branded as barbaric and brutal. Israel insisted it was offensives and vowed to targeting Hamas, which it hold more protest actions blamed for rocket attacks in an effort to bring to the in recent weeks, but the attention of the United NaPalestinian group said it tions and the world the was only retaliating for atrocities committed by Iscontinued military ac- rael against the Palestinian tions by the Jewish gov- people. ernment on civilian tarThe protest was led by Agakhan Sharief, chairman gets in Gaza. In Marawi City in of the Bangsamoro NaLanao del Sur province, tional Movement For Peace Muslims marched to pro- and Development. He test the Israel’s attacks on branded the Israeli attacks Gaza. “Bangsamoro is on Gaza as “genocide.” “This is genocide and Gaza, Gaza is Bangsamoro,” locals chanted as cruel as children, women they marched around the and elderly are being tarMuslim city last week. geted by Israel in Gaza and The marchers pro- world leaders just let this tested the Israeli brutality happen,” he said.
T
Other carried placards with markings that read: “We are marching For Gaza” and “Down with Israel” and protesters also burned a replica of the Jewish flag. In Basilan province, Muslim and Christian residents also held a similar rally. In the Philippine capital, the youth group called Anakbayan has condemned the atrocities perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people and expressed support to the struggle of the Palestinians to free themselves from “Zionist occupation and oppression.” It also condemned the United States for aiding “Israeli Zionist aggression” and blatant pro-Israel bias of the western media.
Vencer Crisostomo, leader of the Anakbayan, strongly criticized western leaders, who were quick to condemn the death of the 3 Israeli teenagers, but remain silent on Israeli atrocities in Palestine. “In the midst of the Israeli onslaught, US President Barack Obama even stated that Israel has the right to defend itself. US condemnation of the violence perpetrated by Israel is contrary to what the US is doing. The US is a long time ally of Israel, and continues to support Israel’s aggression militarily and financially - US gives $3 billion military aid to Israel annually - The US supplies Israel with in exchange for serving as the extension of US hegemonism and terrorism in the Middle East,”
he said. “We call on all Anakbayan chapters and Filipino youth all over the world to stand with the Palestinian people in their struggle for national liberation and to condemn USIsrael terrorism. We must take to the streets and call for justice and peace. We must protest against the latest and long-standing atrocities committed by the Zionist Israeli regime against the Palestinian people, and the contemptible support given to it by Western governments headed by the Imperialist US,” he added. Crisostomo said Anakbayan stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom from the “yoke of the US imperialist backed Zionist Is-
rael.” “The end of the Israeli government’s Zionist policy and the respect for Palestinian’s right to selfdetermination will foster peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and solidarity between the Israeli and Palestinian people,” he said. Anakbayan said it will also hold rallies in different parts of the country to protest the continued Israeli attacks on Gaza. Another group called Bayan also condemned the continuing air-strike of Israeli jets in Gaza and also held a protest in the Philippines. It said the Israeli government's war against the Palestinians is backed by the US. (With a report from Drieza Lininding and J. Magtanggol)
Filipinos told to evacuate Libya
he Philippines has ordered the mandatory evacuation of some 13,000 Filipino workers in Libya as fighting between state forces and militias continues. The Department of pinos to get in touch with Foreign Affairs has already the Philippine Embassy in raised Alert Level 4 in Tripoli. It said no Filipino Libya in response to the workers will be allowed to extremely unstable politi- travel to Libya. cal and security situation Filipino migrants rights there. group Migrante said the Under Alert Level 4, peace and order situation the Philippine Govern- in Libya is unstable and rement undertakes evacua- mains a serious concern for tion of Filipino nationals Filipino workers even bethere as soon as possible. fore the DFA ordered FilipiThe DFA also told the Fili- nos out of there.
ARMM
It said the DFA and its diplomatic post in Tripoli failed to assess the real situation in Libya. "It is deterio-
Southern Mindanao
Davao
rating as fighting escalates especially in areas where there are concentrations of OFWs," John Leonard
Monterona, of Migrante Middle East, said. "How could the DFA renders a proper alert level and correctly advise the OFWs if its diplomatic officials are not keen on the actual peace and situation in Libya?” Monterona asked. The DFA said a Filipino worker was abducted and beheaded by militias in Libya and his body was abandoned in a hospital. Monterona said the DFA should have acted much earlier to evacuate
Western Mindanao
Cebu
Filipinos in Libya and not wait for the security situation to deteriorate further. "Hindi pwede ang hula-hula lang sa anumang kalagayan naruruon ang ating mga kapwa OFWs sa Libya. Higit sa lahat inu-una ang kanilang kaligtasan," he said. Fighting has reached Libya's main international airport July 20 where Misrata militias fired rockets and mortar rounds.
Manila