While chanting “US imperialist, number one Terrorist”, progressive groups burn a vandalized national flag of USA in the 15th year of 9/11 terror attacks.

During the 15th anniversary of 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, progressive groups boldly set a vandalized national flag of United States of America (USA) on fire at the street fronting the City Hall of Davao last Sept. 11, on Sunday late afternoon.

The burning of the US flag was part of the protest criticizing the controversial involvement of the US government in both 9/11 attacks and the recent Roxas night market bombing incident.

The rally was about “supporting Duterte’s independent foreign policy which started with Duterte’s critique against the murders of the US colonialists in Mindanao.”

Progressive groups such as the Kabataan Partylist, the League of Filipino Students (LFS), and the Bayan-Southern Mindanao Region (SMR), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU)-SMR, among others, rallied their disapproval towards the motives of the said foreign government.

Kabataan Partylist Vice President for Mindanao Paul Dotollo expressed the conviction of the groups regarding the US government’s ‘questionable’ motives while comparing the said two bombing incidents.

“Susama sa pagpamomba sa World Trade Center, ang Roxas night market bombing pud anaa’y mga pipila o gani kadaghanan, ug largely similar ang duha ka events,” he said.

“Aside from gi-encourage gyud siya sa US kung sa World Trade Center, kana ang pag-train nila sa mga radical na mga Muslims para mahimong terorista ug ang nahitabo katong subsequent nga pagbaliktad sa mga maong tawhana ug nag-form ug mga klase-klaseng terrorist organizations sama sa Al Qaeda,” he added.

Dotollo also pointed out that the US government was also responsible for other bombing incidents such as the “twin-bombing” events that occurred such as the 2013 SM and Gaisano Mall cinema bombings and the 2003 Sasa Wharf and Davao old airport bombings.

Dotollo further said that the purpose of these attacks were “to justify the entrance of American troops”.

Furthermore, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was the main issue they criticized during the protest, claiming that this could be a threat to the sovereignty of the country which may lead to exploitation of natural resources.

“Nangita sila’g [US] pamaagi aron sa ingon niana mosangpit ta sa ila sa ayuda depensa.

“Ang iyang interes mao ang mga resources. Labi na sa Pilipinas na tanan nga mga resources ania diri, labi na sa Mindanao,” KMU-SMR Chairman Leon Bolcan said in an interview.

Sept. 11 is also the anniversary of LFS which was founded during the time of Martial Law.