FILIPINO COMFORT WOMEN TAG PRESIDENT ARROYO AS MODERN-DAY MAKAPILI
by Lila-Pilipina-GABRIELA Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 at 1:03 PM

After a protest-rally at the Japanese Embassy yesterday, the comfort women under Lila-Pilipina today trooped to Mendiola near Malacanang Palace to condemn President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for abandoning their fight for justice.

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NEWS RELEASE
10 August 2005

Reference: Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA Secretary General (0917-3221203)
Rechilda Extremadura, Coordinator Lila-Pilipina (0915-5379579)

Filipino comfort women marks Global Action Day for Justice
FILIPINO COMFORT WOMEN TAG PRESIDENT ARROYO AS MODERN-DAY MAKAPILI

After a protest-rally at the Japanese Embassy yesterday, the comfort women under Lila-Pilipina today trooped to Mendiola near Malacanang Palace to condemn President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for abandoning their fight for justice.

The comfort women illustrated their disgust to President Arroyo through a symbolic casting of stone to her image. This is the response o the comfort women to Mrs. Arroyo’s challenge “to those without sin to cast the first stone.”

“The comfort women are the first to accept the challenge of Mrs. Arroyo. They are casting the first stone because they are victims of her inutility and negligence. We want her to step down from the presidency,” Rechilda Extremadura, Lila-Pilipina coordinator said.

The comfort women also tagged Mrs. Arroyo a modern-day Makapili for being a traitor to them. “This is the only country where the fight of the comfort women is not supported by its government,” Extremadura lamented.

Extremadura cited the betrayal of Mrs. Arroyo despite the promises she made to the comfort women. “Already without the support to our cause, Mrs. Arroyo even defended the position of the Japanese government that the Peace Treaty and Reparations Agreement of Philippines and Japan have already covered the demands of the comfort women. It is also shameful that she even allowed the establishment of a kamikaze memorial in the country.”

Lila-Pilipina also condemned Mrs. Arroyo for supporting Japan’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. “Unless Japan takes legal responsibility for its conscription of comfort women before and during the World War II, it will never be qualified for such position. But with Mrs. Arroyo acting as a Makapili, she has been serving the comfort women’s enemy.” ###

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Filipino comfort women condemn President Arroyo's negligence on their cause.
by Lila-Pilipina-GABRIELA Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 at 1:03 PM

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Near Malacanang Palace where they were violently dispersed by the police.
by Lila-Pilipina-GABRIELA Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2005 at 1:03 PM

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