Thursday, November 18, 2004
"Dispersal"
For me the cruel history of the Philippines has always been more or less academic. After all, I was watching Sesame Street during the first People Power and wasn't even born yet during the killings at Plaza Miranda.
But this just put things into perspective for me.
Hacienda Luisita death toll now 14
Updated 02:19am (Mla time) Nov 18, 2004
By Russell Arador, Ronald Dizon, Jo Clemente
Inquirer News Service
Seven more people, including two children, were reported killed in Tuesday's dispersal of striking workers of Central Azucarera de Tarlac, raising the death toll to 14.
The children -- aged 2 and 5 -- died of suffocation when tear gas used by the police and military during the dispersal drifted to their quarters, according to the workers. Two other bodies were found in nearby sugarcane fields a day after the clash.
Charges of assault, illegal assembly, inciting to sedition and malicious mischief were being readied against more than 100 strikers, the Inquirer learned.
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers, backed by an armored personnel carrier and several fire trucks, stormed the barricades of the strikers at the main gate of the plantation at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday.
The APC was used to ram the gate from inside the sugar mill. Police and military took control of the main gate after initially using teargas and water cannons on the protesters. The men in uniform later fired live rounds on the strikers.
The military operation against the protesters is not yet over.
But this just put things into perspective for me.
Hacienda Luisita death toll now 14
Updated 02:19am (Mla time) Nov 18, 2004
By Russell Arador, Ronald Dizon, Jo Clemente
Inquirer News Service
Seven more people, including two children, were reported killed in Tuesday's dispersal of striking workers of Central Azucarera de Tarlac, raising the death toll to 14.
The children -- aged 2 and 5 -- died of suffocation when tear gas used by the police and military during the dispersal drifted to their quarters, according to the workers. Two other bodies were found in nearby sugarcane fields a day after the clash.
Charges of assault, illegal assembly, inciting to sedition and malicious mischief were being readied against more than 100 strikers, the Inquirer learned.
Hundreds of policemen and soldiers, backed by an armored personnel carrier and several fire trucks, stormed the barricades of the strikers at the main gate of the plantation at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday.
The APC was used to ram the gate from inside the sugar mill. Police and military took control of the main gate after initially using teargas and water cannons on the protesters. The men in uniform later fired live rounds on the strikers.
The military operation against the protesters is not yet over.
Labels: news, philippines
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