A multi-country protest against Chinese encroachment on Philippine territory will be staged on Friday (May 11).
The protest to be held in front of Chinese embassies around the world will be attended by prominent Filipino personalities. Among these are President Fidel Ramos, Broadway star Lea Salonga, former civil service commissioner Karina David, civil society leader Leah Navarro.
Lead organizer Loida Nicolas Lewis of the US Pinoys for Good Governance said the rally in Makati City will take place between 12 noon and 1 p.m. in front of the Chinese Embassy.
“This is a matter of Philippine sovereignty. Somebody is stepping on our shore. We should tell them ‘Get out,’” Lewis said, calling on Filipinos as well as Philippine-loving citizens to join the street protests against the Chinese government.
Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Jackson Gan of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce have joined Nicolas-Lewis in calling on all patriotic Filipinos here and abroad to join the International Day of Protest against China’s intrusions on Philippine territory.
The US Pinoys for Good Governance earlier said Filipinos around the world should show they will not stand for the brazen incursions in areas clearly within the Philippines’s UN-designated 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Meanwhile, reports said Chinese travel agencies have suspended travel to the Philippines following the rising tension over the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
Companies such as ctrip.com and Beijing International Travel Service have suspended tours and promised refunds to their clients who booked trips to the Philippines. The Chinese embassy in Manila has warned its citizens to stay off the streets during the protest action.
