AN Irish priest has spent the past two days on top of an electricity pylon in the Philippines to protest against the installation of a power line near a children's home.
Father Shay Cullen (53) is urging the Asia Pacific Economic Co Operation (APEC) forum to back his protest. "I am calling on the APEC leaders not to allow their meeting to be tainted with an ugly colour," said Father Cullen, who has vowed to remain on the 40 foot pylon until his demands are met.
The APEC leaders are due to hold a summit meeting in November in Subic free port, adjacent to Olongapo, 50 miles northwest of Manila. Father Cullen, a long time resident of the Philippines, is demanding rerouting of a cable which is being installed to provide back up power for the summit.
He said the high tension cable would pass above the rehabilitation centre which he operates for victims of child prostitution and drug addiction and claimed that it was likely to emit electromagnetic radiation harmful to the health of the 26 children living there.
The priest, who is involved in campaigns against drug addiction and sex tourism, also wants the local authorities to connect a water supply to the centre. "This is a symbol of the government's insensitivity to the welfare of their people", he said, speaking on a two way radio from a platform he has constructed near the top of the pylon.
Motorists passing the scene have been blowing their horns to express solidarity with the protest and about two dozen supporters of the priest are holding a vigil at the foot of the pylon.