Migrante Europe

Author: Franklin Irabon

  • Press Release: STOP THE RED TAGGING

    Press Release: STOP THE RED TAGGING

    The Office of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) recently released in social media posts (especially in Facebook) the names of organizations linking pro-people organizations to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP); fomenting threats and condemnations from among the online followers of the military and the Duterte government.

    The gross red-tagging of people’s organizations, partylist groups, and even of religious groups is a blatant disregard of basic democratic rights.

    These organizations are legal pro-people organizations; the partylist groups elected in Congress (Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT, Kabataan and Anakpawis) are all duly recognized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), each party represents a specific marginalized sector in the country, bringing pro-people concerns thru participation in Congress. And other organizations representing the media, students, indigenous people, migrants, environment, farm workers, urban poor, labor and others.

    The religious groups identified are the following: National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR). The tagged organizations are duly recognized faith groups doing spiritual and social ministry to Filipinos, with longstanding history for promoting social justice and defending human rights.

    Migrante International, an international organization of migrant Filipinos abroad (and a co-signatory of this call) is one those red-tagged in social media; we manifest our support to Migrante, aware that this organization will not be cowed by this recent malicious branding.

    Rodrigo Duterte and his war-freak police and military forces, in the name of National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), is using the dirty-old tactic of red-tagging.

    We are all aware that this recent red-tagging is stained with violence and malicious intent as it were in the past, consistently defaming the value of human rights and of our dedication to serve the poor. We want to remind the implementors and campaigners of this red-tagging scheme that we will pursue legal investigation and accountability for the threats, intimidations and violence done to the leaders, organizers and members of the named groups.

    We call our fellow Filipinos to never be deceived by the hopeless campaigns of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC); be completely aware that the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other sectors of the state forces are using peoples’ money for this media campaign enterprise; and be vigilant that our own government is sanctioning the killings and salvaging of our activists, organizers and members of peoples’ organizations.

    As the country faces the grim impacts of the pandemic, and as the Filipino people are suffering from the incapacities of government response; the military and their agents have still the nerve to instill violence and threats to organizations and individuals. Recently, Carlito ‘Karletz’ Badion, Secretary-General of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) was murdered by the state-forces in Ormoc, Leyte. As we condemn this vicious killing of our comrade, we offer our salute to ‘Ka Karletz’ for his selfless dedication and service to the urban poor.

    Our network of organizations in Europe condemn this malicious red-tagging of our allied organizations, fellow activists, and members of the red-tagged groups! We are not terrorists! The Duterte Government is! The AFP-PNP tandem is the one terrorizing our organizers and leaders in the communities, with threats and deaths! You are the terrorists in military clothing!

  • (ITALY) Regularisation, here is the text from the Official Gazzette. The flat-rate contribution is 500 euros

    (ITALY) Regularisation, here is the text from the Official Gazzette. The flat-rate contribution is 500 euros

    Rome, 20 May 2020 – Regularisation, DL art. 103 has been published in the Official Gazzette.
    Among the new features (compared to what was previously announced) we find that: the amount of the contribution for the employer increases from 400 to 500 euros.
    The presence in Italy can be proved with all documents with a certain date from public offices.

    translated from https://stranieriinitalia.it/attualita-sp-754/regolarizzazione-ecco-il-testo-in-gazzetta-ufficiale/

    https://stranieriinitalia.it/

    here is the text :

    1. In order to ensure adequate levels of individual and collective health protection as a result of the contingent and exceptional health emergency linked to the disaster resulting from the spread of Covid 19 and to encourage the emergence of irregular employment relationships,

    Italian employers or nationals of a Member State of the European Union, or foreign employers holding the residence permit provided for in Article 9 of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended,

    may apply, in the manner described in paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7, to conclude a contract of employment with foreign citizens present on the national territory or to declare the existence of an irregular employment relationship, still in progress, with Italian citizens or foreign nationals.

    To this end, foreign citizens must have been subjected to photodactyloscopic surveys before March 8, 2020 or must have stayed in Italy before that date, on the basis of the declaration of presence, made in accordance with Law no. 68 of May 28, 2007, or certificates consisting of documents of a certain date from public bodies; in both cases, foreign citizens must not have left the national territory since March 8, 2020.

    2. For the same purposes referred to in paragraph 1, foreign citizens, with a residence permit expired on October 31, 2019, not renewed or converted into another residence permit, may apply for a temporary residence permit, valid only in the national territory, for a duration of six months from the submission of the application, according to the modalities referred to in paragraph 16.

    To this end, the aforementioned citizens must be present on the national territory on 8 March 2020, without having left the same date, and must have carried out work activities in the areas referred to in paragraph 3, before 31 October 2019, proven in accordance with the procedures set out in paragraph 16.

    If, at the end of the duration of the temporary residence permit, the citizen has a subordinate employment contract or the salary and social security documentation proving the performance of the work activity in accordance with the provisions of the law in the sectors referred to in paragraph 3, the permit is converted into a residence permit for work reasons.

    3. The provisions of this article apply to the following sectors of activity:

    (a) agriculture, livestock and animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture and related activities;

    (b) assistance to the person for themselves or for members of their family, even if they are not living together, suffering from diseases or handicaps that limit their self-sufficiency;

    (c) domestic work to support family needs.

    4. The application referred to in paragraph 1 shall indicate the duration of the employment contract and the agreed remuneration, not less than that provided for in the collective labour agreement of reference entered into by the trade unions and employers’ organizations comparatively more representative at national level.

    In the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, if the employment relationship terminates, even in the case of a seasonal contract, the provisions of article 22, paragraph 11, of legislative decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended, shall apply, in order to carry out further work activity

    5. The application referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, shall be submitted from 1 June to 15 July 2020, in the manner established by decree of the Minister of the Interior in agreement with the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of Labour and Social Policies, and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies, to be adopted within ten days of the date of entry into force of this decree, at the following address

    (a) the National Social Security Institute (INPS) for Italian workers or for nationals of a Member State of the European Union;

    b) the one-stop-shop for immigration, referred to in Article 22 of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended, for foreign workers, referred to in paragraph 1;

    c) the Police Headquarters for the issue of residence permits, referred to in paragraph 2.

    6. The same decree referred to in paragraph 5 also establishes the employer’s income limits required for the termination of the employment relationship, the appropriate documentation to prove the work activity referred to in paragraph 16 as well as the detailed procedures for carrying out the procedure.

    Pending the definition of the procedures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the presentation of the petitions allows the carrying out of the work activity; in the hypothesis referred to in paragraph 1, the foreign citizen carries out the work activity exclusively in the employ of the employer who has presented the petition.

    • The applications are presented upon payment, with the modalities provided for by the inter-ministerial decree of which

    It is also provided for the payment of a lump-sum contribution for the amounts due by the employer for remuneration, contributions and tax, the determination of which and the methods of acquisition are established by decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy in agreement with the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

    8. Ineligibility of the requests referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, limited to cases of conversion of the residence permit into a work permit, the conviction of the employer in the last five years, even with a non-final sentence, including the one adopted following the application of the penalty on request pursuant to Article 444 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, constitutes a cause for ineligibility:

    a) aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy and illegal immigration from Italy to other States or for crimes aimed at the recruitment of persons to be used for prostitution or exploitation of prostitution or minors to be employed in illegal activities, as well as for the crime referred to in Article 600 of the Criminal Code;

    b) illegal intermediation and exploitation of labour pursuant to Article 603-bis of the Penal Code;

    c) offences referred to in Article 22, paragraph 12, of the Consolidated Act referred to in Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended.

    9. It also constitutes a cause for the rejection of the requests referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, limited to cases of conversion of the residence permit into work reasons, the failure of the employer to sign the contract of stay at the one-stop-shop for immigration or the subsequent failure to hire the foreign worker, except in cases of force majeure not attributable to the employer, however, occurring following the completion of procedures for the entry of foreign citizens for reasons of subordinate work or procedures for the emergence from irregular work.

    10. Foreign citizens are not admitted to the procedures provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article:

    a) in respect of whom an expulsion order has been issued pursuant to Article 13, paragraphs 1 and 2, letter c), of Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998, and Article 3 of Decree-Law No. 144 of 27 July 2005, converted, with amendments, by Law No. 155 of 31 July 2005, and subsequent amendments.

    b) that are reported, also on the basis of international agreements or conventions in force for Italy, for the purposes of non-admission in the territory of the State;

    c) they have been convicted, even with a non-final sentence, including that pronounced also following application of the penalty on request pursuant to Article 444 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for one of the offences provided for in Article 380 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or for offences against personal liberty or for drug offences, aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy and illegal emigration from Italy to other States or for crimes aimed at the recruitment of persons to be used for prostitution or the exploitation of prostitution or minors to be employed in illegal activities;

    d) which are in any case considered a threat to public order or the security of the State or of one of the countries with which Italy has signed agreements for the abolition of internal border controls and the free movement of persons.

    In assessing the dangerousness of the foreigner, account is also taken of any convictions, even with non-final sentences, including those pronounced following the application of the penalty on request pursuant to Article 444 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for one of the offences provided for in Article 381 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

    11. From the date of entry into force of this decree until the conclusion of the proceedings referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the criminal and administrative proceedings against the employer and the employee, respectively, shall be suspended:

    a) for the employment of workers for whom the declaration of emersion has been submitted, even if of a financial, tax, social security or welfare nature;

    b) for illegal entry and stay in the national territory, with the exclusion of the offences referred to in Article 12 of Legislative Decree No 286 of 25 July 1998, as amended.

    12. In any case, criminal proceedings against employers are not suspended for the following offences:

    a) aiding and abetting illegal immigration to Italy and illegal immigration from Italy to other States or for crimes aimed at the recruitment of persons to be used for prostitution or exploitation of prostitution or minors to be employed in illegal activities, as well as for the crime referred to in Article 600 of the c

    (b) illegal intermediation and exploitation of labour in accordance with Article 603-bis of the Criminal Code.

    13. The suspension referred to in paragraph 11 shall cease if the application referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 is not submitted, or if it is rejected or dismissed, including the failure of the parties referred to in paragraph 15.

    Criminal and administrative proceedings against the employer shall in any case be dismissed if the negative outcome of the proceedings is due to causes beyond the employer’s control or conduct.

    14. In the event that the employer employs, without prior notification of the establishment of the employment relationship, foreigners who have submitted the application for the temporary residence permit referred to in paragraph 2, the sanctions provided for in Article 3, paragraph 3, of Decree-Law no. 22 February 2002, n. 12, converted, with amendments, by Law no. 73 of 23 April 2002, article 39 (7) of decree-law no. 112 of 25 June 2008, converted, with amendments, by Law no. 133 of 6 August 2008, article 82 (2) of Presidential Decree no. 797 of 30 May 1955 and article 5 (1) of Law no. 4 of 5 January 1953. When the facts referred to in Article 603-bis of the Criminal Code are committed against foreigners who have applied for the temporary residence permit referred to in paragraph 2, the penalty referred to in the first paragraph of the same article is increased from one third to one half.

    15. The one-stop-shop for immigration, having verified the admissibility of the declaration referred to in paragraph 1 and obtained the opinion of the Police Headquarters on the absence of grounds for refusing access to the procedures or the issuance of the residence permit, as well as the opinion of the competent Territorial Labour Inspectorate regarding the economic capacity of the employer and the appropriateness of the working conditions applied, convenes the parties for the stipulation of the residence contract, for the compulsory notification of employment and the compilation of the application for the residence permit for subordinate work. Failure by the parties to appear without justification shall result in the closure of the proceedings.

    16. The application for the issuance of the temporary residence permit referred to in paragraph 2 is submitted by the foreign citizen to the Questore, from 1 June to 15 July 2020, together with the documentation in possession, identified by the decree referred to in paragraph 6 suitable to prove the work activity carried out in the sectors referred to in paragraph 3 and verifiable by the National Labour Inspectorate to which the application is also directed.

    Upon submission of the request, a certificate is delivered that allows the person concerned to legitimately reside in the territory of the State until any communication from the Public Security Authority, to carry out subordinate work, exclusively in the sectors of activity referred to in paragraph 3, as well as to submit any application for conversion of the temporary residence permit into a residence permit for work purposes.

    The applicant is also allowed to register in the register referred to in Article 19 of Legislative Decree no. 150 of 14 September 2015, by presenting to the Employment Offices the certificate issued by the Questore (Police Commissioner) referred to in this article. For the fulfilments referred to in paragraph 2, article 39, paragraphs 4-bis and 4-ter of law no. 3 of 16 January 2003 shall apply; the relevant charge to be borne by the party concerned shall be determined by the decree referred to in paragraph 5, up to a maximum amount of 30 euros.

    17. Pending the definition of the proceedings referred to in this article, the foreigner cannot be expelled, except in the cases provided for in paragraph 10. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1, the signing of the residence contract together with the obligatory notification of employment referred to in paragraph 15 and the issue of the residence permit entail, for both the employer and the worker, the extinction of the crimes and administrative offences relative to the violations referred to in paragraph 11.

    In the case of a request for emersion referring to Italian workers or citizens of a Member State of the European Union, the relevant submission pursuant to paragraph 5, letter a) entails the extinction of the crimes and offences referred to in paragraph 11, letter a).

    In the cases referred to in paragraph 2, the extinction of the crimes and administrative offences relating to the violations referred to in paragraph 11 is the sole consequence of the issue of a residence permit for work purposes.

    18. The residence contract stipulated on the basis of an application containing untrue data is null and void pursuant to article 1344 of the Civil Code. In this case, any residence permit issued is revoked under article 5(5) of legislative decree n.

    19. By decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy in agreement with the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the allocation of the flat-rate contribution, referred to in the last sentence of paragraph 7, is determined.

    20. In order to effectively combat the phenomena of concentration of foreign citizens referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 in conditions inadequate to ensure compliance with the hygienic-sanitary conditions necessary to prevent the spread of contagion from Covid-19, the competent State Administrations and the Regions, also through the implementation of the measures provided for in the Three-Year Plan to combat labour exploitation in agriculture and the caporalate 2020-2022, adopt solutions and urgent measures suitable to ensure the health and safety of housing conditions, as well as further interventions to combat irregular work and the phenomenon of the caporalate. For the above purposes, the Operational Table established by art. 25 quater of Legislative Decree no. 119/2018, converted with amendments by Law no. 136/2018, can avail itself of the support of the Department for Civil Protection and the Italian Red Cross, without new or increased charges to public finance. For the implementation of this paragraph, the Public Administrations concerned shall provide within their respective financial, human and instrumental resources available under current legislation.

    21. In paragraph 1 of article 25-quater of Decree Law no. 119 of 2018, after the words representatives, the following words are added “of the delegated political authority for territorial cohesion and of the delegated political authority for equal opportunities”.

    22. Unless the act constitutes a more serious offence, whoever makes false statements or certifications, or contributes to the act in the context of the procedures provided for in this article, shall be punished in accordance with article 76 of the Consolidated Act referred to in Presidential Decree no. 445 of 28 December 2000.

    If the act is committed through the falsification or alteration of documents or with the use of one of these documents, the penalty is imprisonment from one to six years. The penalty is increased up to a third if the act is committed by a public official.

    23. In order to allow for a more rapid definition of the procedures referred to in this article, the Ministry of the Interior is authorised to use, for a period not exceeding six months, through one or more employment agencies, temporary contract work services, up to a maximum expenditure limit of 30,000,000 euros for 2020, to be distributed to the places of employment concerned in the regularisation procedures, in derogation of the limits referred to in Article 9, paragraph 28, of Decree Law no. 78 of 31 May 2010, converted, with amendments, by Law no. 122 of 30 July 2010. To this end, the Ministry of the Interior may use negotiated procedures without prior publication of a tender notice, pursuant to Article 63, paragraph 2, letter c) of Legislative Decree no. 50 of 18 April 2016, as amended.

  • Message of Solidarity on Farmworkers’ General Strike (Italy – May 21, 2020

    Message of Solidarity on Farmworkers’ General Strike (Italy – May 21, 2020

    Greetings of solidarity to all, friends and fellow migrants! We, in Migrante Europe an alliance of Filipino migrants’ organization in Europe, strongly adhere to the call by the organized farm workers for unconditional regularization. We commend your militant initiative for this general strike and for bringing the voices of the “invisible” migrants, immigrants and displace people in the forefront of the up-coming regularization law in Italy.

    Like other ”invisible” people, Filipino undocumented migrants and immigrants all over Europe, are strictly suffering from the havoc of this pandemic. In Italy alone, of which an estimated of 20,000 undocumented migrant workers are left without or minimal assistance from our own government. They were even left out of any assistance from the Cure Italy decree of the Italian government, of which only documented and regular workers can avail.

    https://www.facebook.com/2211922102464724/videos/1148458975487168/

    We migrants and immigrants share the commonality on the root cause of migration. We recognize our right to migrate for a humane future, for us and our family and this is our fundamental rights. What we are experiencing now is beyond our rights. Migration now becomes a force choice for us to conserve our human dignity as a person. We flee and migrate for there is war of aggression in our country. We flee and migrate from having an environmentally torn country caused by multinational mining and exploitation. We flee and migrate from a despotic and tyrannical rule.

    Like you, Filipinos are forced to leave and seek for a better future, but these choice is more driven by the systematic policies of our own government. Ever since, our government knew that it can profit not only from the raw materials that it exports but also from the remittance of Filipino migrants, it then brought into policy the continuous bargain of Filipino workforce abroad.

    Labor export policy as we call it, have made Filipinos a mere product, a simple commodity on which to exchange and profit from. In 2019 alone, our government had profited an enormous 29 billion dollars from our remittances. More than 10 percent of the total 105 billion population of Filipinos are dispersed globally. Before the pandemic, 7,000 Filipinos leave our country everyday to work abroad. This situation is strengthen by the implementation of neo-liberal laws and policies dictated by imperialist countries to our own government, thus leading to local mass unemployment, inequity, social injustice and poverty. Yet, they neglect their duties on their service to the Filipino migrants.  

    https://www.facebook.com/2211922102464724/videos/2566937650302828

    Thus, we join your call for the immediate unconditional regularization of undocumented migrants/immigrants and displaced people. The pandemic of Covid-19 must not be only a pretext for a humane treatment of all irregular and undocumented migrants. Human rights must be the base of any regularization. We could talk of a vaccine from the disease in six months to a year from now, but if the migrants remain irregular and without access to a proper health care, it is useless.

    We share your sufferings and we unite with you in pursuing the rights of other “invisible” people that also taking part for the economic building and development of any host country.  We further call for decriminalization of irregular and undocumented workers and stop  the neoliberal policies dictated by the imperialist countries.  

    “Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples”

    “Universal right to health and public health for all and not private profit!”

    “Stop Criminalizing Migrants and Stop Deportation!”

    “End Neoliberal Policies in Third World Countries! Stop Imperialist Domination!”

    “LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!”

    Marlon Lacsamana

    Secretary-general

    Migrante Europe

    [email protected]

    Messaggio di solidarietà sullo sciopero generale dei braccianti (Italia) – 21 maggio 2020

    Un saluto di solidarietà a tutti, amici e compagni migranti! Noi di Migrante Europe, un’alleanza dell’organizzazione dei migranti filippini in Europa, aderiamo con forza all’appello dei braccianti per una regolarizzazione incondizionata. Elogiamo la vostra iniziativa militante per questo sciopero generale e per aver portato le voci dei migranti “invisibili”, degli immigrati e degli sfollati in prima linea nella prossima legge di regolarizzazione in Italia.

    Come altre persone “invisibili”, i migranti filippini senza documenti e gli immigrati di tutta Europa soffrono rigorosamente del caos di questa pandemia. Solo in Italia, di cui si stima che circa 20.000 lavoratori immigrati senza documenti siano rimasti senza o con un’assistenza minima da parte del nostro Governo. Siamo addirittura esclusi dall’assistenza del decreto Cura Italia del Governo italiano, di cui possono usufruire solo i lavoratori regolari e documentati.

    Noi migranti e immigrati condividiamo con voi la causa principale della migrazione. Riconosciamo il nostro diritto a migrare per un futuro umano, per noi e per la nostra famiglia e questo è il nostro diritto fondamentale. Quello che stiamo vivendo ora va oltre i nostri diritti. La migrazione diventa per noi una scelta di forza per conservare la nostra dignità umana come persona. Fuggiamo e migriamo perché nel nostro Paese c’è una guerra di aggressione. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un paese ambientalmente lacerato a causa dell’estrazione mineraria e dello sfruttamento multinazionale. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un Governo dispotico e tirannico.

    Come voi, i filippini sono costretti ad andarsene e a cercare un futuro migliore, ma queste scelte sono maggiormente guidate dalle politiche sistematiche del nostro stesso Governo. Da allora, il nostro Governo sapeva di poter trarre profitto non solo dalle materie prime che esporta, ma anche dalle rimesse dei migranti filippini, ha poi portato in politica il continuo affare della forza lavoro filippina all’estero.

    La politica di esportazione del lavoro ha fatto dei filippini un semplice prodotto, una semplice merce di scambio e di profitto. Solo nel 2019, il nostro Governo ha beneficiato di 29 miliardi di dollari americani delle nostre rimesse. Più del 10% dei 105 milioni della popolazione totale filippina è dispersa a livello globale. Prima della pandemia, 7.000 filippini lasciano ogni giorno il nostro Paese per lavorare all’estero. Questa situazione è rafforzata dall’applicazione di leggi e politiche neoliberali dettate dai paesi imperialisti al nostro Governo, portando così alla disoccupazione di massa locale, all’iniquità, all’ingiustizia sociale e alla povertà. Eppure, essi trascurano i loro doveri al servizio dei migranti filippini.

    Quindi ci uniamo alla vostra richiesta di una regolarizzazione immediata e incondizionata dei migranti/ immigrati senza documenti e degli sfollati. La pandemia di Covid-19 non deve essere solo un pretesto per un trattamento umano di tutti i migranti irregolari e senza documenti. I diritti umani devono essere alla base di ogni regolarizzazione. Potremmo parlare di un vaccino contro la malattia tra sei mesi e un anno, ma se i migranti rimangono irregolari e non hanno accesso a un’assistenza sanitaria adeguata, è inutile.

    Condividiamo le vostre sofferenze e ci uniamo a voi nel perseguire i diritti di altre persone “invisibili” che partecipano anche per la costruzione e lo sviluppo economico di qualsiasi paese ospitante. Chiediamo inoltre la depenalizzazione dei lavoratori irregolari e senza permesso di soggiorno e la cessazione delle politiche neoliberali dettate dai Paesi imperialisti.

    “Regolarizzazione e pieni diritti di cittadinanza per tutti i lavoratori migranti, rifugiati e sfollati”

    “Diritto universale alla salute e alla sanità pubblica per tutti e non al profitto privato!”

    “Stop alla criminalizzazione dei migranti e stop all’espulsione!”

    “Porre fine alle politiche neoliberali nei Paesi del Terzo Mondo! Stop alla dominazione imperialista!”

    “LUNGA VITA ALLA SOLIDARIETÀ INTERNAZIONALE!”

  • Support human rights in the Philippines with Altromercato

    Support human rights in the Philippines with Altromercato

    The Human Rights violations in the Philippines have also affected members, collaborators and volunteers of PFTC, partner organization of Altromercato since 1991, on several occasions. 

    Agreeing with the article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights – “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression” – and with article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights – “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”, we appeal for the charges to be dropped against the 42 Human Rights activists arrested on May 1, 2020 by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Iloilo City and released on bail on May 2nd, 2020.

    The activists were only exercising their Constitutional Rights by meeting at the Jaro Cathedral to demand justice for Jory Porquia, killed at dawn on April 30th, 2020. Altromercato strongly condemned this terrible murder and asks that executors and instigators be brought to justice. On April 30th, 2020, the name of Jory Porquia was added to the long list of victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

    Jory Porquia, longtime activist for the defense of the environment and Human Rights, was also the architect who designed the mills for the organic Mascobado sugar, produced and exported by PFTC. Since 1991 Altromercato sells PFTC’s Mascobado sugar in Altromercato shops and in several supermarkets throughout Italy and in some European countries.

    Jory’s is yet another murder perpetrated to affect the activity of PFTC (Panay Fair Trade Center), a strong network of 5 cooperatives, whose activities benefit over 10,000 families on Panay island in the Philippines. PFTC’s “fault” is having freed many small farmers from the dependence and exploitation of landowners. Not only has PFTC improved the living conditions of more than thousands families on Panay island, but they have also carried out empowerment and awareness-raising programs, highlighting social and political issues and working for a democratic and sustainable development.

    The arrest of the forty-two peaceful activists, Elmer Forro, Mary Adrivene B. Dalida, Julrod Prino, Meriam Agbas, Mars Geraneo, Vivian Asong Apolinar, Alma Sumague, Rea D. Ogoy, Ana Marie G. Primalion, Ruth O. Alinsangao, Jocelyn S. Gabion, Pergerie P. Panila, Sheba Q. Babac, Dave I. Cordero, Sharon Rose Nabua, Tessie C. Garachico, Inecitas A. Ruedas, Ruben P. Obrero, Ronalyn G. Pronelos, Bonifacio M. Casipong, Edgardo A. Salarda, Saturnino Pitos, Jose Ely Garachico, Valiant Pabelona, Arjie Ertaleza, Krisma Nina Porquia, Crimson Labinghisa, Gabyel Rei T. Guillen, Randy Vergara, Marites Pinolan, Jean Tondo, Paz Garachico, Kervin Bonganciso, Bryan Bosque, MC Mace Sulayao, Marco Sulayao, Nelson Licoto, Ma. Preva Lhuz Cerdanio, John Marlon Jacar, Arnel Catedrilla, Lucia Fernandez, Francisco, Angelo Karlo Guillen, is a violation of citizens’ Constitutional Right to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.

    These events occurred on the same day workers worldwide celebrated International Labour Day, and while the Philippines and the whole world are in the grip of the Covid19 pandemic. In compliance with the protocols to contrast the Covid19 pandemic, the activists duly observed “social distancing” rules and were exercising their Constitutional Right to a peaceful assembly, affirming their freedom of speech and expression.

    The Bill of Rights guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution in 1987 establishes that: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” 

    Sign this appeal in order to ensure that the forty-two peaceful Human Rights activists will be cleared, thus permitting them to go back to their work, their duties and their commitments to Human Rights. 

    Link to the petition

    https://www.change.org/p/icpo-chief-peter-baliao-republic-of-the-philippines-sostieni-con-altromercato-42-attivisti-per-i-diritti-umani-nelle-filippine?recruiter=51504227&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition&fbclid=IwAR0Fuv4QqkPtJMLiKTpOg8kNG_wx8R22pzeJ5v5lcElLiSjleShmtp0kgBk&use_react=false

  • Grant Full Citizenship Rights & Regularization for all Migrants & Refugees in Europe NOW! Sign our Petition!

    Grant Full Citizenship Rights & Regularization for all Migrants & Refugees in Europe NOW! Sign our Petition!

    The International Migrants Alliance – Europe (IMA-Europe) – a grassroots-led regional formation of organizations of and migrants, immigrants, refugees and displaced peoples – joins the world in its fight to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed not only the flawed global health care systems of even the highly industrialized countries and their satellite states, but also laid bare the bankruptcy of capitalist neoliberalism and the need for system change. The inevitable collapse of financial markets and loss of jobs, personal incomes and life savings are causing untold anguish and panic around the world. A deep global depression is imminent.

    file foto of Jon Bustamante

    We salute all the health workers and other frontliners, substantial numbers of whom coming from migrant and immigrant communities, who daily expose themselves to the risk of infection to serve those in need. We express our highest respect for those who have already fallen in the course of their service, and we mourn for the tens of thousands who have succumbed to the sickness.

    Among the victims of this pandemic are destination countries with a dense population of migrants, refugees and displaced people. Grassroots organizations and their service providers from these communities are calling for access to social and health services and protection for these vulnerable groups most often overlooked by government policies responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

    Many migrants, refugees and displaced peoples are also left to their own devices to procure personal protective equipment that can protect and safeguard their health, if they even have the means to get it. With the ‘users pay’ in place even on health services, they shoulder the expenses for individual protection given their meager salary and the increasing support they have to send to their families back home who are also facing similar difficulties due to the pandemic and government policies or lack of it.

    In these difficult times, especially worrisome are the conditions of undocumented migrants who were already vulnerable even before the outbreak. Members of the IMA-Europe have reported that undocumented migrants in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and in other European countries where there is a highly militarized response to the crisis, fear being accosted and/or arrested on the streets for not having the proper identification, stay and work permits if they need to go to work or buy their provisions. This compounds their fear and anxiety of losing substantial ‘no-work no-pay’ income and the threat of losing their jobs.

    file foto of Jon Bustamante

    But because of the pandemic, there is now an even more urgent crisis in the shortage of health workers and a dire need for them in many European countries including Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. Deals are being brokered between many sending countries and EU member states to bring in nurses and health workers, farm and other frontline workers in order to respond to the shortage. And yet when they are brought in to do the same kind of job as local workers, they are paid less. They are also required to go through stringent requirements before they are given resident and citizenship rights. At the same time, discrimination, xenophobia and hate crimes are being fanned by rightist groups especially against Asian migrant and refugee communities who are unfairly profiled as virus carriers.

    In the UK, Ireland and Spain, undocumented migrant workers and asylum-seekers, including those with professional medical training are already being recruited to work in care homes and hospitals in response to the medical emergency. In recognition of the vulnerable situation of these workers, Portugal*1 granted full citizenship rights to all migrants and refugees to allow them access to health care and financial aid during the pandemic. A similar call for temporary regularization of undocumented migrants is being made by French parliamentarians.

    As we face the pandemic, we need to strengthen the solidarity among migrants, refugees and displaced people with workers and the local population in receiving countries and in the sending countries. We need to continue the fight not only against the virus but also against forced migration, capitalist exploitation, and imperialist plunder and aggression.

    file foto of Jun Bustamante

    We need to call on policy-makers to ensure that during this pandemic, vulnerable communities of migrants, refugees and displaced people are protected and afforded social and welfare assistance in recognition of their sacrifices and contribution towards alleviating the current global health crisis.
    The International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe calls on all solidarity allies and friends of migrants, refugees and displaced peoples to demand –

    – Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples in the pandemic frontlines of Europe, ensuring their access to equal workers’ rights and social and welfare benefits, NOW!

    – Equal access to health care, social and welfare assistance to communities of migrant, refugee and displaced peoples during the pandemic!

    – The right to family reunification of migrants, refugees and displaced people!

    – Universal right to health and public health for all and not for private profit!

    – Bailout WORKERS, not multinational corporations!

    – Sign and ratify ILO ( International Labor Organization) Domestic Workers Convention 189!

    LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!

    International Migrants Alliance (IMA) – Europe
    Zaria Galliano Chairperson

    *1 Schengen Visa Info, 2020. Portugal Grants Migrants and Asylum Seekers Full Citizenship Rights During COVID-19 Outbreak, www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/portugal-grants-migrants-and-asylum-seekers-full-citizenship-rights-during-covid-19/ Accessed, 13 April 2020.

    Since we are not able to see your contact details (E-mail add) upon signing our petition, please contact us through:
    Our IMA Facebook page: International Migrants Alliance – IMA Europe
    Our E-mail address: [email protected]

    Here is the link to the petition …

    https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/grant-full-citizenship-rights-regularization-for-all-migrants-refugees-in-europe-now-sign-our-petition.html?fbclid=IwAR3OiLGEQ2LpEVO-n-qTi17IUCn8yFG7-2D7pshqGsb0J5F0pBFpciqPIuY

  • REGULARIZATION & FULL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS NOW!

    REGULARIZATION & FULL CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS NOW!

    The migrants (regular and irregular), refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples are the most vulnerable population in our global society.

    The current COVID-19 pandemic moved us to organize the April 28 Coalition (an alliance of 65 different groups and delegates championing migrants and refugees welfare) to pursue the collective call for the “Regularization and/or granting of full citizenship rights for all migrants (regular and irregular), refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples.” 

    The following are our calls for European legislators/lawmakers, to: 

    (1) Legislate the regularization and/or granting of full citizenship rights for all migrants (regular and irregular), refugees, asylum seekers and displaced peoples.  

    (2) Ensure the provision of health assistance and other social services regardless of immigration status and address homelessness and food insecurity.  

    (3) Stop the immigration detention and deportation of individuals and families.  

    (4) End the global inequalities—within and among nations.

    Please sign and share our Petition.   

    Thank you for your support and concern.

    Here is the link to the petition ….

    https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/regularization-full-citizenship-rights-now.html

  • Protect the Filipinos, Protect our Human Rights

    Protect the Filipinos, Protect our Human Rights

    The Duterte Government failed to address holistically the COVID-19 pandemic! From the very start, he played a clown to address the crisis—telling the Filipino people that the government has enough money to address the crisis, and can face the crisis. And months into this lockdown, he is now telling the Filipino people that the government has no more money.

    The Duterte Government employed military solution, instead of the medical approach to the crisis. Thus, our consistent call for the crisis resounds—Solusyong Medikal, Hindi Solusyong Militar! Adding to the record of human rights violations they are inflicting on the communities and the poor; and even emboldening themselves as the powerful implementor of the COVID government response. Likewise, we are adding our call to re-channel the ₱379 billion approved budget of both the AFP and PNP (2020 General Appropriations Act) to COVID-19 pro-people response.

    The Duterte Government used Congress to approve a corrupt-ridden economic band-aid to the health crisis, the so-called ‘government response package’ worth ₱1.49 trillion. Intending to initially spend the amount of  ₱648.521 billion to address the crisis, and more than half of the amount funded from loans; the government already released the amount of ₱350 billion. Ironically, in the midst of the pandemic, the approval of the US-Duterte arms deal worth ₱75 billion. Adding in the budget line-up: military, tourism, infrastructure, among others—marked by a capitalist greed! Aware that all these figures will be a burden to us Filipinos. Thus, our call is to consistently insist and pursue the root cause of our economic crisis, not this pro-business, pro-profit and graft-tainted solution!

    The Duterte Government shows its vindictive attitude on the critical media agencies; currently, it successfully shutdown the ABS-CBN media network; a glaring sacrilege to press freedom; aware of the role of media in information dissemination on issues and updates on national issues and of the current COVID crisis.

    The Duterte Government employs a business approach of imposing the mandatory increase of PhilHealth premium of OFWs (Overseas Foreign Workers); we echo the common sentiment of the working Filipinos abroad to scrap the PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0014 as we call for Public Health Not Profit!

    The Duterte Government continues to employ the barbarity of the state forces to address the pandemic; manifested by the killings of ordinary citizens and activists during the crisis, continued harassment on far-flung communities; the unfounded accusations of NPA attacks, the red-tagging on legal pro-people organizations and leaders (like Fr. Raymond Ambray of Surigao); and the criminal pricing of rebel leaders.

    The Duterte Government is displaying its military force in every corner of our islands; from guarding of the towns and cities to the distribution of cash aid; up to the pursuit of activists and identified organized communities, implementing violence tainted military-adventurism even during the crisis.

    All these are utter disgust to the Filipino People, Rodrigo Duterte manifests the vulture-face of this crisis, taking advantage politically of our vulnerabilities.

    The Duterte Government is not Protecting the Filipinos and is not Protecting our Human Rights. Resist Duterte’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic! Oust Duterte!#

    Reference:

    Stella Matutina
    ICHRP Europe
    [email protected]

    Bishop Antonio Ablon
    Europe Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines
    [email protected]

    Marlon Lacsamana
    Migrante-Europe
    [email protected]

    Andrew Rex Manalang
    Anakbayan-Europa
    [email protected]