Young Filipino protesters plan a trip to West PH Sea islands in April

Defying China. A group of 47 young Filipino men and women arrived on Pagasa Island in the Spratly archipelago in December 2015 in a symbolic defiance of China’s claim to almost the entire South China Sea. AFP/KALAYAAN ATIN IT

A group of young Filipino protesters is planning a trip to the Philippine-claimed islands in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) in April.

Last month, nearly 50 members of Kalayaan Atin Ito stayed in Pagasa Island (Thitu) for a week to protest China’s claims in the disputed waterway. This was despite the government’s lack of encouragement on the voyage.

“We will go island hopping on all islands. Number [of participants] will depend on how many will join us in Palawan but many have signified in our Facebook page,” said Vera Joy Ban-eg, spokesperson for the group.

The group hopes to stay for a month in April and will visit the islands in batches if they are too many.

The Philippines occupies nine territories in the Spratlys in the South China Sea, with Pagasa as the largest.

The rest of the Philippine military detachments in the Spratlys are: Ayungin Shoal, Lawak (Nanshan) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Patag (Flat) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island, Rizal (Commodore) Reef, Likas (West York) Island and Panata (Lankiam Cay) Island.

Originally, the group aimed to bring 10,000 youths in a month-long protest from November 30 to December 30 on different islands in the Spratlys, but was cut down due to the difficulty to get resources.

“We are appealing again to everyone to join this fight by contributing for the logistics,” Ban-eg said.

She said those who can afford the trip will shoulder their own expenses.

Ban-eg thinks that the government, who was not in favor of their first protest, might support them this time.

“We believe that the higher leadership realized that we need to act as one after China copied us by flying their civilians to the island,” she said. TVJ

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