Manila, Philippines, Aug 4, 2008 / 22:28 pm
Thousands of Catholics in two southern Philippines cities on Monday demonstrated against a government agreement granting Muslims more territory and political and economic powers. One critic characterized the deal as the building of a “Berlin Wall” in the country and another called it a “virtual declaration” of a new state.
Church bells rung and businesses closed for the protest in the mainly Catholic city of Zamboanga, Reuters says. About 10,000 people, many wearing red shirts to show their opposition, gathered at a demonstration where a Catholic archbishop and a local tribal leader wearing traditional head dress and loin cloth sat beside the city’s mayor, Celso Lobregat.
"Do not build a Berlin Wall among the people in Mindanao," Lobregat said in an address to the crowd. “We are also for peace. We don't want the creation of an area based on religion, an area that would segregate us. Christians and Muslims have been living in peace and harmony together in our city.”
Around 8,000 people, who wore red shirts and armbands and held placards, also gathered in the city of Iligan in protest.