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Manila: Protest Over Oil Prices PDF print email
Written by Jelena   
Thursday, 27 August 2009 13:48
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user_73_tzbe146r7j8cly_2 Dozens of young activists rallied in front of an oil refinery's Manila headquarters today, protesting the rise in fuel costs and condemning the government for failing to stop inflation.

Activists from Anakbayan (Nation's Youth) staged the protest on the same day public transport fares were raised.




"We don't believe that the government has no power over these oil price increases. What's clear is that they're helpless to act because they're imbeciles and unwilling to do anything to help the people."

Pushing against security guards and hurling grease bombs towards the office of Petron, the country's largest domestic refining company, activists demanded that the 12 percent tax on oil and petroleum products be scrapped and the oil deregulation law that removes government subsidies be junked.

Unlike in other Asian countries where gas prices are subsidised, the petroleum industry in the Philippines is deregulated, forcing consumers to pay free-market rates for gas.

In this year alone, gas prices in the Philippines went up 18 times for a total increase of over 35 percent as global oil prices reached record-highs.

As public discontent grows, Anakbayan activists are not ruling out a political showdown with the government.

Tags: Year: 2008 Location: Asia Category: Protest and Persuassion Category: NonCooperation Protest and Persuassion: Public Speeches Protest and Persuassion: Slogans, caricatures, and symbols Protest and Persuassion: Banners, posters, displayed communications Protest and Persuassion: Records, radio, and television Protest and Persuassion: Displays of flags and symbolic colors Protest and Persuassion: Wearing of symbols Protest and Persuassion: Symbolic reclamations Protest and Persuassion: Marches Protest and Persuassion: Protest meetings Protest and Persuassion: Walk-outs Methods of NonCooperation: Selective social boycott Methods of NonCooperation: Social disobedience Methods of NonCooperation: Consumers' boycott Methods of NonCooperation: National consumers' boycott Methods of NonCooperation: Protest strike Video: Has Video
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Last Updated on Monday, 21 September 2009 16:31
 
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