10,000 strong anti-globalization protesters took to the streets and converged in Manila while ending the WTO 5th Ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico yesterday. The protest was a two day caravan from nearby provinces in Luzon that aims to culminate at the U.S. embassy in Roxas Boulevard in Manila, but police authorities stopped the protesters in penetrating towards the embassy.

The protesters who were mostly composed of [organic farmers from the countryside in Luzon] was cheerfully welcomed by the workers in the service sector, fisher folks and urban poor sectors as they arrived through a caravan in Rotunda, Manila around 10 a.m. yesterday. But a large number of farmers from Bicol who are expected to join the action in Manila yesterday was unfortunate enough to converge among the anti-globalization protesters in the city, because the police authorities of Gumaca province halted the farmers caravan along the highway. Farmers from Calamba, Laguna where also stopped by the authorities in penetrating towards Manila to join the anti-globalization action.

But, despite the coercive suppression of the state authorities against the right of the people to express their resistance; farmers who were blocked along the highway staged a spontaneous action infront of the police barricades, condemning the proposed liberalization of agriculture in the countryside as well as the rampant militarization against them.

Meanwhile, [anti-globalization protesters in Manila condemns President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] for being the author of GATT/WTO ratification in 1994 when she was then a Senator. The protesters also warned the President by staging a huge demonstration in October as the leader of the U.S. War of Aggression- George Bush jr. will soon visit the country.

The September 13, 2003 anti-WTO actions marked the GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION against globalization and war. Coordinated actions was also held in every part of the world, condemning the desperate measures of putting back Capitalism into a healthy status. [ READ MORE AND COMMENT ]