New Yorkers Rally to Demand Removal of Philippine Troops from Iraq

Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines
7/14/04

"Save the Life of Angelo, Troops Out Now!" reverberated off the windows of the Philippine Consulate on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue on a rainy Monday evening.  Despite the rain, thirty people from various Filipino, Korean and anti-war groups including United for Peace and Justice and NY ANSWER chanted and held signs with large pictures of Angelo de la Cruz. Mr. de la Cruz is a 46 year-old truck driver from Pampanga, and the father of 8 children. He has been held hostage in Iraq for several days. His captors are demanding that the Philippine government pull out its 51 soldiers from Iraq by July 20, or Mr. de la Cruz will be executed.  The picket was organized by the Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP) and GABRIELA Network NY/NJ.

The demonstrators passed out informational leaflets and raised placards with pictures of Mr. de la Cruz and written demands for Filipino troops to leave Iraq. Visual artist and NISPOP member Margarita Garcia brought a painting of George W. Bush and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo getting married. "It shows the unholy union of the ruling classes," said Garcia. “GMA is willing to trade her people for arms and power, whereas Bush needs expendable manpower in Iraq. But in the case of de la Cruz, Bush is literally taking Filipino blood."

Ree Obana spoke for Ugnayan, NISPOP's Filipino Youth Collective, and pumped up the crowd's energy with chants of a spoken word flavor.  Obana spoke angrily about how President Arroyo's puppetry to the US may lead to the death of Angelo de la Cruz.

Around 10 Koreans came to demonstration to show their solidarity. Wol-San Liem of Nodutdol for Korean Community Development spoke with passion about the war and its consequences for Iraqis, Koreans and Filipinos: "Neither of these countries [Korea or the Philippines] have any reason to be in Iraq.  It's US pressure and domination that has pushed our governments to defend the Bush administration's interests and desire to control the world's oil." Liem concluded, "Kim Sun-Il should not have died! Angelo de la Cruz must be released -- and all foreign troops must be pulled out of Iraq!”
 
Wrapping up the rally, Ana Liza Caballes of DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association asked, "How many more Filipinos have to suffer and die abroad before the government addresses the root causes of the Philippines' economic and political crisis, so that Filipinos are not forced to go abroad to survive?"

The demonstration in New York took place simultaneously with the vigils of the de la Cruz family in Mexico, Pampanga, the large peace vigil at Mendiola near the Presidential Palace in Manila, and similar actions around the world. 

Shortly after the rally, the Philippines announced plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq.  Foreign Secretary Delia Albert says that eight of the 51 troops have already left Iraq.  “Pulling out eight soldiers shows that the demonstrations are having an impact, but it is not enough. The Philippine government must withdraw all troops immediately and stop wasting time. Their slow and inadequate response shows a condemnable lack of concern for the life of de la Cruz and other Filipino workers still in Iraq,” said Dan Wilson of NISPOP.

NISPOP can be reached at 212-561-1567 or nispop@nispop.org.