Greenpeace urges global offices to denounce attack vs members
By EDGARD HILARIO, Manila bulletin
Global environment watchdog Greenpeace yesterday has urged all its offices worldwide to write the Philippine government and denounce the use of "excessive violence" on some of its members by armed guards of a coal-fired power plant in Masinloc, Zambales on Thursday.
"The Philippine government and the National Power Corp. (Napocor) should be held accountable for the use of excessive violence against our members. So far, this is the worst to happen to our environment activists globally.
"The response is clearly disproportionate with the peaceful nature of the activity," Greenpeace international energy campaigner Tina Ronquillo said.
Some 20 Greenpeace members attempted to scale the fence of the Masinloc power plant compound to hang a banner reading "Stop Climate Change" in protest of the continued use of coal, pointed to as one of the cause of global warming.
The group said private security guards of the 600-megawatt power plant beat them with clubs, stones and even fired at them. A New Zealander was reportedly hit by a crowbar in the face and head while a Filipino was hit with a butt of an armalite rifle in the head.
Several others were also hospitalized for various injuries while the rest were hauled to a police station to face trespassing charges. They were later released.
"They were not really charged, but we’re now seriously considering filing charges of serious physical injuries against the Masinloc ground personnel. Some of our members require further hospitalization in Manila for injuries and trauma that have yet to manifest," Ronquillo said.
Ronquillo said that the Greenpeace "global family" has flooded the international headquarters with protests against the violent incident while some issued warnings to future Greenpeace members to be "extra-careful in their clean air and energy campaign in the Philippines."
"This is, by far, the most violent reaction we’ve received in pursuing the issue of clean air and energy use. This definitely puts the Philippines in a very bad light," Ronquillo said.
Greenpeace, however, vowed to pursue its campaign despite the incident with a series of activities in the country.
On Monday, Greenpeace and the FOCAP meet in a business forum at the Manila Hotel while its flagship the Rainbow Warrior opens to the public until Tuesday at Pier 16.
On Nov. 20, the Rainbow Warrior sails to Bacolod City for a meeting, and declaration of gratitude, to local officials for making Negros Occidental the only province in the country which refuses coal use.
Global environment watchdog Greenpeace yesterday has urged all its offices worldwide to write the Philippine government and denounce the use of "excessive violence" on some of its members by armed guards of a coal-fired power plant in Masinloc, Zambales on Thursday.
"The Philippine government and the National Power Corp. (Napocor) should be held accountable for the use of excessive violence against our members. So far, this is the worst to happen to our environment activists globally.
"The response is clearly disproportionate with the peaceful nature of the activity," Greenpeace international energy campaigner Tina Ronquillo said.
Some 20 Greenpeace members attempted to scale the fence of the Masinloc power plant compound to hang a banner reading "Stop Climate Change" in protest of the continued use of coal, pointed to as one of the cause of global warming.
The group said private security guards of the 600-megawatt power plant beat them with clubs, stones and even fired at them. A New Zealander was reportedly hit by a crowbar in the face and head while a Filipino was hit with a butt of an armalite rifle in the head.
Several others were also hospitalized for various injuries while the rest were hauled to a police station to face trespassing charges. They were later released.
"They were not really charged, but we’re now seriously considering filing charges of serious physical injuries against the Masinloc ground personnel. Some of our members require further hospitalization in Manila for injuries and trauma that have yet to manifest," Ronquillo said.
Ronquillo said that the Greenpeace "global family" has flooded the international headquarters with protests against the violent incident while some issued warnings to future Greenpeace members to be "extra-careful in their clean air and energy campaign in the Philippines."
"This is, by far, the most violent reaction we’ve received in pursuing the issue of clean air and energy use. This definitely puts the Philippines in a very bad light," Ronquillo said.
Greenpeace, however, vowed to pursue its campaign despite the incident with a series of activities in the country.
On Monday, Greenpeace and the FOCAP meet in a business forum at the Manila Hotel while its flagship the Rainbow Warrior opens to the public until Tuesday at Pier 16.
On Nov. 20, the Rainbow Warrior sails to Bacolod City for a meeting, and declaration of gratitude, to local officials for making Negros Occidental the only province in the country which refuses coal use.
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