MISREADINGS
Summit of wealthy nations
It is not the first time that Filipino activists and activists from other nations have traveled in order to attend parallel activities being initiated by civil society in a host country where global events are held like the meeting of leaders of member states to the World Trade Organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or the Group of 20.
It is also not the first time that the immigration department of a country hosting the event has rejected clearance for the entry of activists at the airport and right away sending them back to its country of origin at the next flight. Without an airline to accommodate them back, a “comfortable” detention cell or holding area is readily provided within the airport premises to temporarily house those who are being detained.
A few years ago, scores of Korean trade union activists entered Hong Kong-China to protest the institutionalization of a trade policy pushed by influential member nations in the World Trade Organization which will be uniformly imposed by the governments of members to the WTO once approved.
The Korean trade unions are considered one of the most organized and well-funded group of protesters. Aware of the rigorous procedures that will be implemented by the Hong Kong security department, the Koreans provided more than a month time allowance to ensure they could safely enter the borders and silently establish ground in Hong Kong. Like unassuming tourists, one of the groups was able to occupy an entire floor of a hotel as guests, establishing a headquarters.
In the parallel civil society activities to the WTO meeting, the Koreans undeniably outnumbered all other protesting citizens from other countries. Their protest activities were well-planned, organized, colorful, and creative. I believe that almost all the plan they formulated in the drawing board were properly executed putting into account possible violent dispersal by police personnel, arrests, and even detention.
The WTO meeting in Hong Kong could be considered one of the most violent yet successful for the Koreans. Many of their trade union members went face-to-face with dispersal teams of the Hong Kong police and numerous of them, if not in hundreds, were arrested and detained. Many police personnel on the other hand were injured and hospitalized.
The WTO in Hong Kong is just one of the many occasions that host governments of similar global events confronts the protesters from all over the world. Yet the numbers of citizens coming from all parts of the world are increasing as they become more aware of the unfair policies pushed by wealthy nations located in the North to poorer countries like the Philippines in the South.
For instance in the ASEAN, Japan would invite Philippines to sign an agreement to open its seas for fishing vessels of Filipino fishermen to enter Japan borders. Likewise, the Philippine seas will be open for Japanese fishers. Yet selected Filipino fisherfolk are protesting that the Philippine government signs such an agreement for they believe that this pact will greatly compromise the interest of Filipino fisherfolk. For one, their fishing boats are not designed for the rough seas of Japan, and more important point, there are no fishes for them to gather in the seas of Japan. On the other hand, the opposite is the situation in the Philippines and the agreement will provide Japan the opportunity to deplete the country’s marine resources.
With livelihood and food security at stake, these issues will be right at the center of protest actions by Filipino fisherfolk in gatherings like the ASEAN. If the issue being protested is warranted and the agreement unsigned after the meeting, this can be considered a failure on the part of the host nation of the event.
It is in this context that the Korean government bars the entry of protesting citizens to the G20 Summit. It wanted to ensure the protection of the interests of the powerful nations. This is a meeting of the wealthy nations and they do not want to hear the demands of people. The incident wherein Filipino activists were deported from Korea in spite having been issued proper clearances by the Korean consulate in the Philippines illustrates what real interests are in the hands of groupings like the G20.
The reason why Filipino activists want to participate in the activities in Korea is to deliver the message of the Filipinos to the leaders of the G20 that they are opposed and are resisting the failed development model of the G20. The Philippine government must not allow its citizens to be treated unfairly by a nation with whom it has diplomatic relations. This incident must serve as a reminder to President Aquino that the Filipino people is his “boss” and not the other way around.*
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