(27 Sep 1996) Tagalog/Eng/Nat
Squatters in the Philippines capital Manila have fought soldiers who were sent to demolish their makeshift homes.
The area outside the Fort Bonifacio military camp in suburban Makati is due to be for development.
But residents refuse to leave.
The television cameras weren't welcomed by the Philippines army when they arrived in the Manila suburb of Makati.
The troops had orders to demolish the shanty towns around the Fort Bonifacio military camp to make way for new development projects.
First on the list was the village of Southside where the soldiers met with fierce resistance from local residents.
After a brief standoff the army was forced to retreat - they only managed to clear one house in the village.
The residents - who were out at the time - returned to find their home destroyed and all their possessions strewn across the road.
Shocked and angry at being made homeless, they denounced Philippines President Fidel Ramos for his harsh treatment of the country's poor.
The attempted demolition at Southside follows a string of similar incidents in squatter colonies in and around Manila.
The authorities have been widely criticised for their recent attempts to flush the poorer districts of the capital ahead of November's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Manila.
SOUNDBITE: (Tagalog)
"What kind of soldiers do we have now in this Ramos government? They
are always oppressing us, the poor people. We have built our houses and the government soldiers just come and destroy them, is that what the Ramos administration wants?"
SUPER CAPTION: Southside squatter (did not wish to give name)
SOUNDBITE: (Tagalog)
"All he (Ramos) does is travel abroad, but here in his country, he does
not take pity on us, the poor. Why did they do this to my house? We had a hard time building this.
SUPER CAPTION: Squatter resident (did not wish to give name)
The soldiers say the people in the village had been given prior notice to leave or be threatened with eviction.
The locals say they were given no advance warning.
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