The Herald (South Africa)

Duterte faces ‘Hunger Games’ protests

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CRITICS of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have adopted the three-finger salute from the hit Hunger Games films as a sign of resistance against his rule and drug war killings.

The sign is in contrast to Duterte’s own iconic gesture, a clenched fist raised at or above eye level that is immensely popular with his support but which opponents have likened to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s hand salute.

Opposition politician­s and other members of a new antiDutert­e coalition performed the Hunger Games salute in unison on Monday while announcing protests tomorrow against what they said was his path filled with violence, contempt for law and hate.

“Yes, we adopted the threefinge­r salute to signify resistance, same as that of the Hunger Games trilogy,” House of Representa­tives member Gary Alejano said.

The gesture has since been adopted by pro-democracy protesters in military juntaruled Thailand, with some arrested for flashing the salute.

Hand signs are powerful political symbols in the Philippine­s, a riotous democracy with a bloodstain­ed history of military dictatorsh­ip.

A generation ago, activists used the “L” hand sign to show opposition to the dictatorsh­ip of Ferdinand Marcos, toppled in a bloodless “People Power” revolution in 1986.

Supporters of Marcos, accused of massive corruption and of killing, jailing and torturing dissidents during a 20-year rule, had countered with his “V for victory” sign.

Apart from anger over the drug war, in which police have reported killing more than 3 800 suspects, critics also allege Duterte is imposing a form of authoritar­ian rule that could lead to another dictatorsh­ip.

They point to his support of the Marcos family, as well as efforts by his allies in Congress to impeach the Supreme Court chief justice and defund the Commission on Human Rights.

Duterte has repeatedly warned he may impose martial law, saying military rule could solve many of the nation’s problems.

 ?? Picture: AFP ?? NO MORE: Philippine senators Risa Hontiveros, left, Antonio Trillanes, right, and others raise the three-finger salute at the launch of Tindig Pilipinas (Arise Philippine­s)
Picture: AFP NO MORE: Philippine senators Risa Hontiveros, left, Antonio Trillanes, right, and others raise the three-finger salute at the launch of Tindig Pilipinas (Arise Philippine­s)

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