Hundreds of leftist activists, farmers and students on Monday burned an effigy of US President Donald Trump in the shape of a swastika after clashes with anti-riot police that left at least 16 people injured.
Police in Manila used water cannons on the demonstrators as they marched along Taft Avenue, about 6 kilometres away from the venue of the leaders summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The protesters, numbering an estimated 1,000, pushed back and triggered a confrontation with about 500 police officers.
Manila police district chief Joel Coronel said six police officers were injured, while rally organisers said 10 protesters were hurt, including two who were rushed to hospital after being hit on the head by police.
The demonstrators set the 13-foot Trump effigy on fire as the US president was scheduled to meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The meeting, however, was delayed. Loud rap music with the lyrics ‘Out Trump’ played as the effigy burned.
The effigy in the form of a swastika symbolised ‘fascism, war, and plunder,’ said Renato Reyes Jr, secretary general of Bayan, one of the organisers of the protests.
It had four spinning arms, each holding holding a bag of money, a warhead, a pistol and a shovel. Trump sported a moustache in the style of former German dictator Adolf Hitler, with Duterte crouching behind him.
The demonstrators shouted anti-US slogans, demanding the American forces leave the Philippines and Washington stop imposing imperialist economic policies in the country.
They had banners reading, ‘Ban Trump,’ ‘US troops out now’ and ‘Down with US imperialism.’ While the protests have been gaining international attention amid the ASEAN summit in Manila, a survey by the Pew Research Center showed that 69 per cent of Filipinos are confident that Trump will do the right thing regarding world affairs.
The number represents the greatest support for Trump in Asia, according to Pew Research, which added, ‘Globally, a median of just 22 per cent say they are confident that Trump will do the right thing when it comes to international affairs.’
