Category: Press release

  • Migrante Europe asks Duterte to bring home stranded OFWs and political prisoners this Christmas

    Migrante Europe asks Duterte to bring home stranded OFWs and political prisoners this Christmas

    The newly-formed alliance of Filipino migrants, Migrante Europe, has asked the Duterte government to bring Christmas cheers to stranded OFWs and political prisoners by reuniting them with their families.

    “We appeal to President Duterte to do everything he can to bring home many stranded OFWs especially those in the Middle East and, at the same time, for humane considerations, release all political prisoners in the Philippines,” urged Ann Brusola, newly-elected Secretary General of Migrante Europe and a long-time OFW in this city.

    She said this would be the most meaningful gift of President Duterte to the stranded OFWs, political prisoners, and their families.

    About 2,000 OFWs remain stranded in the Middle East because they don’t have travel documents and funds. Most of them have suffered abuse at the hands of labor recruiters and their employers. Many OFWs are also unjustly languishing in foreign prisons because they have not been provided legal assistance by the Manila government, Brusola explained.

    She said political prisoners are also in the same situation – unjustly accused, imprisoned and separated from their families. They should be reunited with their families this Christmas, she added.

    Brusola also said undocumented OFWs are in a way also stranded because they can´t return home. She said the plight of undocumented OFWs and those needing legal assistance, including victims of human trafficking, will be among the major campaigns of Migrante Europe in the next three years.

    During its Founding Congress this weekend, the progressive alliance formed its Regional Council, composed of representatives from its member organizations in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Congress also elected its first set of executive officers, namely: Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr., Chairperson (Filipino Chaplaincy in Leicester, United Kingdom); Rafael Joseph Maramag, Vice-Chairperson for Internal Affairs (Kanlungan Filipino Consortium, United Kingdom); Maitet Ledesma, Vice-Chairperson for External Affairs (Pinay sa Holland – Gabriela, Netherlands); Ann Brusola, Secretary General (Umangat-Migrante Rome, Italy); Jean Gocotano, Deputy Secretary General (Migrante-Denmark); Kendy Sario, Treasurer (Ugnayan ng mga Pilipino sa Belgium); and Elnora Held, Auditor (Gabriela-Germany).

    The alliance also approved yesterday its Constitution and By-Laws and is expected to finish its assembly today by approving its Program of Action. A solidarity evening will follow and tomorrow, December 12, delegates will proceed to the Philippine embassy to present their demands to the Philippine government. #


    Reference:
    Ann Brusola
    Secretary General
    Migrante Europe
    +39 327 882 5544
    [email protected]

  • MIGRANTE Europe Founding Congress calls to uphold rights, freedom to all political prisoners

    MIGRANTE Europe Founding Congress calls to uphold rights, freedom to all political prisoners

    Translations [ French» | Italian» | German» | Dutch» | Spanish» ]

    (Rome, Italy) – The Founding Congress of Migrante Europe opened today at the Roma Camping Village in Rome, Italy, with a strong call to uphold migrants rights and for freedom to all political prisoners, in solidarity with the call in the Philippines.

    Echoing the theme of the International Human Rights Day today “Stand up for human rights”, the delegates hoisted banners and slogans calling to free all political prisoners in the Philippines, upholding human rights and fighting for a just peace, as they stood in front of the stage and sang “Stand by Me” during the opening ceremonies.

    Weng Flores, Chairperson of Umangat-Migrante Rome, welcomed the Congress delegates and guests, and exhorted everyone to honor those who have offered their lives for the people, those migrants who sacrifice a lot to earn a living for their loved ones, and refugees who have lost their lives to escape wars and the political crisis in their countries.

    She underscored the fact that to be a migrant worker means working for long hours and doing jobs that are difficult, dirty and dangerous.

    “Despite the great difficulties we face, we gave time to an important gathering of different representatives of various organizations who came from faraway countries in Europe. We sacrificed several work days just to be part of putting up our own alliance, the Migrante Europe,” Flores stressed.

    Asterio Palima, peace panel member of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, gave the keynote speech during the Congress. He urged delegates to sound the strong call to free all political prisoners, which he said is in conjunction with the demands of justice and adherence to previous agreements between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), especially the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

    Palima traced the history of the resistance of the Filipino people against foreign domination. He also shared the history of the peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP, and stressed that the discussion and eventual agreement on a common document on social and economic reforms in the next round of talks in January 2017, is crucial because it seeks to address landlessness, poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, and social inequality and injustice.

    In a video message, Garry Martinez, Chairperson of Migrante International, said the founding of Migrante Europe and the advance of the progressive movement of Filipinos overseas are within the correct direction of fighting for migrant rights and welfare, and for fundamental issues in the homefront.

    Martinez lamented, however, that the Duterte government has not made any substantial policy yet as alternative to the labor export policy, which has resulted in the commodification and exploitation of our compatriots abroad and in the Philippines.

    Delegates to the Migrante Europe Founding Congress came from 18 countries and 23 organizations across Europe. They are expected to discuss and approve their Constitution and Program of Action, compose its Regional Council, as well as elect its Executive Officers, today until tomorrow.


    French

    (Rome, Italie) – Le congrès fondateur de Migrante Europe a eu lieu aujourd’hui au Roma Camping Village à Rome, Italie, avec un appel fort à respecter les droits des migrants et pour la liberté de tous les prisonniers politiques, en solidarité avec l’appel des Philippines.

    Faisant écho au thème “Levez-vous pour les droits de l’homme” de la Journée Internationale des Droits de l’Homme ayant eu lieu aujourd’hui, les délégués ont hissé des bannières et scander des slogans appelant à libérer tous les prisonniers politiques aux Philippines, à la défense des droits de l’homme et à lutte pour une paix juste, alors qu’ils se tenaient sur une estrade en chantant “Stand by Me” lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture.

    Weng Flores, Présidente de Umangat-Migrante Rome, a accueilli les délégués du Congrès et les invités, et a exhorté tout le monde à honorer ceux qui ont offert leur vie pour le peuple, ces migrants qui sacrifient tout pour gagner leur vie pour leurs proches, et les réfugiés qui ont perdu leurs vies pour échapper à la guerre et à la crise politique dans leurs pays.

    Elle a souligné le fait que, pour être un travailleur migrant signe travailler de longues heures et faire des emplois difficiles, sales et dangereux.

    “Malgré les grandes difficultés que nous rencontrons, nous avons donné de notre temps pour tenir cet important rassemblement de différents représentants de diverses organisations qui sont venus de pays lointains en Europe. Nous avons sacrifié plusieurs jours de travail uniquement pour faire partie et mettre en place notre propre alliance, Migrante Europe », a soulignée Flores.

    Asterio Palima, membre du Comité de Paix du Front National Démocratique des Philippines, a prononcé un discours lors du Congrès. Il a exhorté les délégués à lancer un appel fort à libérer tous les prisonniers politiques qui, selon lui est en conjonction avec les exigences de la justice et le respect des accords antérieurs entre le NDFP et le Gouvernement de la République des Philippines (GRP), en particulier l’Accord Global sur le Respect des Droits de l’Homme et du Droit International Humanitaire (CARHRIHL).

    Palima a retracé l’histoire de la résistance du peuple philippin contre la domination étrangère. Il a également partagé l’histoire des pourparlers de paix entre le GRP et le NDFP, et a souligné que les discussions et éventuel accord sur un document commun sur les réformes économiques et sociales dans le prochain cycle de négociations en janvier 2017 est crucial, car elle vise à adresser la question de l’absence de terre, de la pauvreté, du sous-développement, du chômage et des inégalités sociales et de l’injustice.

    Dans un message vidéo, Garry Martinez, président de Migrante International, a déclaré que la fondation de Migrante Europe et l’avancement du mouvement progressiste des Philippins à l’étranger va dans le bon sens de la lutte pour les droits et le bien-être des migrants et pour les questions fondamentales dans leur pays d’origine.

    Martinez a déploré, cependant, que le gouvernement de Duterte n’ai pas encore mis en place une politique qui serait une alternative à la politique d’exportation de la main d’œuvre, qui conduit à la marchandisation et à l’exploitation de nos compatriotes à l’étranger et aux Philippines.

    Les délégués du Congrès Fondateur de Migrante Europe sont venus de 18 pays et 23 organisations à travers l’Europe. Ils sont venus pour discuter et approuver leur Constitution et leur Programme d’action, composer son Conseil régional, ainsi qu’élire ses dirigeants, d’aujourd’hui jusqu’à demain.


    Italian

    (Roma, Italia) -Il Congresso di fondazione Migrante Europa ha aperto oggi al Roma Camping Village a Roma in l’Italia, con un forte richiamo al rispetto dei diritti dei migranti e per la libertà di tutti i prigionieri politici, in solidarietà con la chiamata nelle Filippine.

    Riprendendo il tema della Giornata internazionale dei diritti umani oggi “Alzati per i diritti umani”, i delegati hanno issato striscioni e slogan chiamando a liberare tutti i prigionieri politici nelle Filippine in difesa dei diritti umani e lottando per una pace giusta, mentre si trovavano di fronte al palco e hanno cantato “stand by Me”, durante la cerimonia di apertura.

    Weng Flores, presidente del Umangat-Migrante Roma, ha accolto i delegati al Congresso e gli ospiti, e ha esortato tutti ad onorare coloro che hanno offerto la loro vita per il popolo, quei migranti che sacrificano molto per guadagnarsi da vivere per i loro cari, e rifugiati che hanno perso la vita per sfuggire dalle guerre e la crisi politica nei loro paesi.

    Lei ha sottolineato il fatto che essere un lavoratore immigrato significa lavorare per lunghe ore e fare lavori difficili, sporchi e pericolosi.

    “Nonostante le grandi difficoltà che abbiamo di fronte, abbiamo dato il tempo ad un importante raduno di diversi rappresentanti di varie organizzazioni che sono venuti da paesi lontani dell’ Europa. Abbiamo sacrificato diversi giorni di lavoro solo per essere partecipi di tirare su la nostra alleanza, il Migrante Europa “, ha sottolineato Flores.

    Asterio Palima, membro di un partito della pace del Fronte Nazionale Democratico delle Filippine, ha dato il discorso chiave durante il Congresso. Egli ha esortato i delegati a enfatizzare la forte chiamata per liberare tutti i prigionieri politici, che ha detto, e’ in congiunzione con le esigenze della giustizia e il rispetto ai precedenti accordi tra l’NDFP e il governo della Repubblica delle Filippine (GRP), in particolare l’accordo globale sul rispetto dei diritti umani e del diritto umanitario internazionale (CARHRIHL).

    Palima ha tracciato la storia della resistenza del popolo filippino contro la dominazione straniera. Egli ha anche condiviso la storia dei colloqui di pace tra il GRP e il NDFP, e ha sottolineato che la discussione e l’eventuale accordo su un documento comune sulle riforme sociali ed economiche nel prossimo round di colloqui nel mese di gennaio 2017, è fondamentale perché cerca di affrontare la privazione dei terreni, la povertà, il sottosviluppo, la disoccupazione e la disuguaglianza sociale e l’ingiustizia.

    In un video messaggio, Garry Martinez, presidente del Migrante International, ha detto la fondazione di Migrante Europa e l’avanzata del movimento progressivo di filippini all’estero sono all’interno del corretto senso di lotta per i diritti dei migranti e il benessere, e per le questioni fondamentali nel fronte interno.

    Martinez ha lamentato, tuttavia, che il governo Duterte non ha ancora fatto alcuna politica sostanziale in alternativa alla politica di esportazione del lavoro, che ha portato alla mercificazione e lo sfruttamento dei nostri connazionali all’estero e nelle Filippine.

    I delegati al Migrante Europe Founding Congress provengono da 18 paesi e 23 organizzazioni di tutta l’Europa. Essi sono tenuti a discutere ed approvare la loro Costituzione e il programma d’azione, comporre il suo Consiglio regionale, così come eleggere i suoi Dirigenti, oggi fino a domani.


    German

    Der Gruendungskongress der Migrante Europe eroeffnete in Roma Camping Village in Rom, Italien mit einem starken Aufruf zur Wahrung der Rechte der Migranten und fuer die Freiheit alle politischen Gefangenen in Solidaritaet mit dem Aufruf in den Philippinen. Die heute das Thema des internationalen Menschenrechtstages widerspiegeln setzen sich fuer die Menschenrechts ein, unterhielten die Delegierten Banner und Slogans, die alle politischen Gefangenen auf den Philippinen befreien sollten, die Wahrung der Menschenrechte und der Kampf fuer einen gerechte Frieden als sie vor der Buehne standen und sangen “Stand by Me”waehrend der Eroeffnungsfeier.

    Weng Flores, Stellvertreterin von Umangat, Migrante Rom begruesste die Kongressdelegierten und Gaeste und ermahnte alle, jene zu ehren, die ihr Leben fuer die Menschen geopfert haben, jene Migranten, die etwas opfern, um ihren Lebensunterhalt fiuer ihre Lieben zu verdienen und auch die Fluechtlinge, die ihr Leben verloren haben, um Kriegen jund der politischen Krise in ihren Kaempfen zu entkommen.

    Sie unterstrich die Tatsache, dass ein Wanderarbeiter zu sein bedeutet Arbeitsplaetze mit laengeren Arbeitszeiten, Arbeit, die schwierig und gefaehrlich sind. “Trotz der grossen Schwierigkeiten, gegenueberstehen, gaben wir Zeit fuer eine wichtige Zusammenkunft von verschiedenen Vertretern verschiedener Organisationen, die aus fernen Laendern in Europa kommen. Wir haben mehrere Arbeitstage geopfert, nur zum Teil unserer eigenen Allianz zu werden, das “Migrante Europe” betonten Flores.

    Asterio Palima forderte die Delegation auf, einen kraeftigen Aufruf zu erlangen, alle politischen Gefangenen zu befreien, die er in Verbindung mit den Forderungen der Gerechtigkeit und der Einhaltung frueherer Vereinbarungen zwischen NdF und der GRP, vor allem die Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHILL).

    Palima verfolgte die Geschichte des Widerstands der philippinischen Bevoelkerung gegen auslaendische Herrschaften. Her teilte auch die Geschichte der Friedengespraeche zwischen dem GRP und dem NDF mit und betonte, dass die Diskussion und eventuelle Einigung ueber eine gemeinsames Dokument ueber soziale und wirtschaftliche Reformen in den naechsten Gespraechen im Januar 2017 von entscheidender Bedeutung sind, die ueber Armut, Unterentwicklung, Arbeitslosigkeit und soziale Ungleichheit und Ungerechtigkeit v.erhandelt werden muss.

    In einem Videobotshcaft, Garrz Martinez, Vorsitzxende von Migrante International, sage die Gruendung von Migrante Europe und den Fortschritt der fortschreitende Bewegung von Filipinos in Uebersee sind in die richtige Richtung der Kaempfe fuer Migrantenrechte- und Wohlfahrt und fuer die grundlegenden Fragen im Heimatfront.

    Martinez beklagte jedoch, dass die Duterte Regierung keine wesentliche Politik alos Alternative zu der Arbeitsexportpolitik gemacht hat, die zur Komodifizierung und Ausbeutung von Landsleuten im Ausland und in den Philippinen gefuehrt hat.

    Delegierte des Migrante Europe Grundungskongresses kamen aus 18 Laendernm und 23 Organisationen europaweit. Sie werden erwartet zu diskutieren und zxu genehmigen ihre Verfassung und Aktionsprogramm, seien Regionalrat sowie waehle seine Vorstaende von Freitag bis morgen.


    Dutch

    (Rome, Italië) – Het oprichtingscongres van Migrante Europe begon vandaag bij de Roma Camping Village in Rome, Italië, met een sterke oproep om migrantenrechten en de vrijheid voor alle politieke gevangenen te verdedigen, in solidariteit met de oproep uit de Filipijnen.

    Met het thema van Internationale Mensenrechtendag om “op te staan voor mensenrechten”, hesen de vertegenwoordigers spandoeken en schreeuwde slogans voor vrijheid van alle politieke gevangenen in de Filipijnen, het verdedigen van mensenrechten en het vechten voor een rechtvaardige vrede, toen ze op het podium stonden en “Stand by Me” zongen tijdens de openingsceremonie.

    Weng Flores, Voorzitter van Umangat-Migrante Rome, verwelkomde de vertegenwoordigers en gasten van het congres, en spoorde ze aan om iedereen die hun levens hebben verloren te eren, de migranten die heel veel hebben achter moeten laten om hun naasten te helpen met een inkomen, en vluchtelingen die hun levens hebben verloren om te vluchten van oorlogen en de politieke crisis in hun landen.

    Zij onderstreepte het feit dat migrantenarbeiders lange uren moeten werken en banen hebben die moeilijk, vies, en gevaarlijk zijn.

    “Ondanks de moeilijkheden waarmee wij worden geconfronteerd geven we aandacht aan een belangrijke bijeenkomst van verschillende vertegenwoordigers van allerlei organisaties van verre landen in Europa. Wij geven belangrijke werkdagen op zodat wij onze eigen alliantie kunnen opzetten, Migrante Europe,” benadrukte Flores.

    Asterio Palima, vredespanel lid van het Nationaal Democratisch Front van de Filipijnen, gaf de keynote speech tijdens het congres. Hij riep vertegenwoordigers op om de campagne om alle politieke gevangenen te bevrijden te steunen, waarvan hij zei dat het in samenloop is met de eisen voor rechtvaardigheid en met het nakomen van voorgaande overeenkomsten tussen het NDFP en de overheid van de Filipijnen, vooral met de Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

    Palima schetste een geschiedenis van verzet van het Filipijnse volk tegen buitenlandse dominantie. Hij deelde ook over de geschiedenis van de vredesbesprekingen tussen de Filipijnse overheid en het NDFP, en benadrukte dat de discussie en eventuele overeenkomst van een gezamenlijk document rondom sociale en economische hervormingen tijdens de volgende ronde van de vredesbesprekingen in januari 2017, cruciaal is omdat het een eind aan landloosheid, armoede, onderontwikkeling, werkloosheid en sociale ongelijkheid en onrechtvaardigheid tracht te brengen.

    In een videobericht zei Garry Martinez, voorzitter van Migrante International, dat de oprichting van Migrante Europe en de vooruitgang van de progressieve Filipijnse beweging overzee binnen de algemene richting is van het vechten voor migrantenrechten en welzijn, en voor de fundamentele kwesties van het thuisfront.

    Martinez beklaagde de overheid van Duterte die nog geen substantieel beleid als alternatief voor het arbeidsexportbeleid heeft gevoerd, wat heeft geleid tot het commodificeren van de uitbuiting van onze landgenoten binnen en buiten de Filipijnen.

    Vertegenwoordigers van het oprichtingscongres van Migrante Europe kwamen uit 18 landen en van 23 organisaties binnen Europa. Verwacht wordt dat zij vandaag tot morgen hun constitutie en actieprogramma gaan bediscussiëren en goedkeuren, een regionale raad samenstellen, en daarvoor de uitvoerende officieren kiezen.


    Spanish

    (Roma, Italia) – El Congreso Fundador de Migrante Europa se inauguró hoy en Roma, con un fuerte llamamiento por la defensa de los derechos de los migrantes y la libertad de todos los presos políticos, en solidaridad con el llamamiento en Filipinas.

    Haciéndose eco del tema propuesto por el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos: “Alcémonos por los derechos humanos”, los delegados levantaron banderas y consignas que clamaban por la liberación de todos los presos políticos filipinos, la defensa de los derechos humanos y la lucha por una paz justa, al son de la canción “Stand by Me” durante la ceremonia de apertura.

    Weng Flores, Presidenta de Umangat-Migrante Roma, dio la bienvenida a los delegados del Congreso y a los invitados, y exhortó a todos a honrar a quienes han puesto su vida al servicio de las personas, a los migrantes que sacrifican mucho para ganarse la vida y ayudar a sus seres queridos y a los refugiados que han perdido la vida al escapar de las guerras y la crisis política en sus países.

    Subrayó el hecho de que ser trabajador migrante significa trabajar durante largas horas y aceptar empleos difíciles, sucios y peligrosos.

    “A pesar de las grandes dificultades que enfrentamos, diferentes representantes de varias organizaciones de países europeos lejanos hemos hecho tiempo para asistir a este importante encuentro. Hemos sacrificado varios días de trabajo para formar parte de la creación de nuestra propia alianza, Migrante Europa “, afirmó Flores.

    Asterio Palima, miembro del panel de paz del Frente Democrático Nacional de Filipinas- National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), pronunció el discurso de apertura durante el Congreso. Urgió a los delegados a hacer un llamamiento por la liberación de todos los presos políticos, lo cual, dijo, está en conjunción con las exigencias de justicia y la adhesión a acuerdos previos entre el NDFP y el Gobierno de la República de Filipinas (GRP), especialmente el Acuerdo Integral por el Respeto de los Derechos Humanos y el Derecho Internacional Humanitario (CARHRIHL).

    Palima trazó la historia de la resistencia del pueblo filipino contra la dominación extranjera. También compartió la historia de las conversaciones de paz entre el GRP y el NDFP y subrayó que el debate y eventual acuerdo sobre un documento común en torno a reformas sociales y económicas durante la próxima ronda de conversaciones de paz, en Enero de 2017, es crucial ya que trata de abordar la pobreza, el subdesarrollo, el desempleo, la desigualdad social y la injusticia.

    Mediante video conferencia, Garry Martínez, presidente de Migrante Internacional, afirmó que la fundación de Migrante Europa y el avance del movimiento progresista de los filipinos en el extranjero empoderan la lucha por los derechos y el bienestar de los migrantes y por cuestiones fundamentales frentes internos de la nación filipina.

    Martínez lamentó, sin embargo, que el gobierno de Duterte no haya hecho todavía ningún avance político sustancial como alternativa a la política de exportación de mano de obra, que ha resultado en la mercantilización y explotación de nuestros compatriotas en el extranjero y en Filipinas.

    Los delegados del Congreso Fundador de Migrante Europa vinieron de 18 países y 23 organizaciones de toda Europa. Se espera que discutan y aprueben su Constitución y Programa de Acción, que compongan su Consejo Regional, y que elijan a sus Oficiales Ejecutivos.

  • Migrante Europe founding assembly set in Rome

    Migrante Europe founding assembly set in Rome

    PRESS RELEASE
    5 December 2016

    Organizations of patriotic Filipinos in Europe are set to convene the first-ever alliance of Filipino migrant organizations in Europe that not only fights for the rights and welfare of Filipinos overseas but also for genuine and lasting social change in the Philippines, in Rome, Italy on December 10-11, 2016. The founding assembly is timed during the celebration of International Human Rights Day and International Migrants Day, whose theme ‘Stand up for someone’s rights today!’, would be echoed in the assembly.

    The founding assembly of Migrante International Europe will be attended and participated in by affiliate member organizations of Migrante International in Europe such as the different Migrante formations in Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, the UK, France and Italy, as well as many other Filipino migrant organizations. Filipino migrant formations of women, youth, professionals, cultural workers and church-based migrant advocates are also expected to join the alliance.

    According to Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr., Filipino chaplain of St. Andrews Church in Leicester, UK, and one of the convenors of the founding assembly, the event which will gather patriotic and democratic organizations and formations of Filipinos working and living in Europe is a historical breakthrough in the history of Filipinos in Europe.

    “Finally, the long-felt need and dream of linking together and forging unity in a formal Europewide alliance to promote Filipino migrants’ and refugees’ rights and genuine freedom and democracy in our Motherland is going to be realized,”

    “As we consolidate our ranks and discuss and thresh out the issues we face as migrants and refugees”, Fr. Herbert stressed, “we will also vigorously reach out to numerous other Filipinos in Europe who feel the impact of anti-migrant policies of the European Union and non-member states, and the racism among the local population that these policies engender.”

    Ann Brusola of Umangat-Migrante Rome, and also a co-convenor, explained that deep-seated poverty, underdevelopment and political repression continue to force hundreds of thousands of Filipinos to seek employment and political refuge abroad. There are over 950,000 Filipinos living and working in Europe. They desire a homecoming to an independent, self-reliant and
    developed Philippines where social equity and justice prevail and where no one is forced to leave their family, community and country for economic or political reasons, she said.

    Migrante International Europe will serve as a regional campaign center to address issues of Filipino migrants and Filipino and non-Filipino refugees, and address major Philippine issues, especially those directly affecting Filipinos in Europe and their families in the homefront.

    Convenor organizations of Migrante International Europe earlier led a delegation of Filipino migrant organizations during the resumption of formal peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Oslo, Norway last August 21, 2016. They submitted the agenda of Filipinos in Europe and several petitions to address urgent rights and welfare issues that have long-besieged Filipinos in Europe, among others, the situation of a significant number of undocumented compatriots in the continent.#

    Reference:

    Ann Brusola
    [email protected]
    +39 327 8825544

  • Filipino migrant groups hold Europe-wide consultations  Filipinos in Europe to present Migrants’ Agenda to Duterte government

    Filipino migrant groups hold Europe-wide consultations Filipinos in Europe to present Migrants’ Agenda to Duterte government

    PRESS RELEASE
    Migrante International – Europe Chapter (OC)
    15 July 2016

    The global network Migrante International (MI) is spearheading a series of consultations with its chapters and other migrants groups in various cities in Europe since the election victory of President Rodrigo Duterte, collecting the sector’s demands and policy proposals for the new government.

    Starting in mid-June and still going on, the Chapter Organising Committee of Migrante International Europe (MIE-COC) has been reaching out to Filipino communities in Rome and Milan in Italy, Gent in Belgium, Amsterdam and The Hague in the Netherlands, Paris in France, London in the United Kingdom, and Vienna in Austria. A number of consultations are still planned for cities in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

    “We fully endorse and support the initiative of Migrante International in consulting with Filipino communities in Europe and in presenting a Migrants’ Agenda to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte,” said Ann Brusola, of Umangat-Rome in Italy, a chapter organisation of MI.

    Thus far, MIE-COC has begun to consolidate the consultations that have been taking place. A few policy proposals have been suggested such as having “uniform fees for uniform services” in regards Philippine consular services; opening of consular posts in places where there is a considerable concentration of Filipinos; establishing a dedicated “complaints hotline” for Overseas Filipinos, among others.

    “Our compatriots in Europe have specific issues and demands we would also like to raise to the President. Like our counterparts in other parts of the world, we would also like to have a dialogue with the President to present and discuss the urgent concerns and demands of OFWs in Europe,” she added.

    In commemoration of Filipino Migrant Workers’ Day on 7 June 2016, Migrante International presented a 10-point proposal for then incoming Duterte government. Included in the proposals were the immediate release of funds under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to rightful claimants; re-opening of the Philippine foreign posts closed down by the government; and the scrapping of policies, fees and other exactions which are additional burdens to OFWs all over the world.

    “We look forward to President Duterte delivering on his promises to prioritise the issues and concerns of Filipino migrant workers in Europe and other regions,” Brusola added. “We encourage him to visit Europe as well, in order to see first-hand the plight of our kababayans this side of the world.”

    The demands and policy proposals from the Europe-wide consultations will be collated into a Migrants’ Manifesto and presented to the President.

    In a related development, Brusola announced plans for the Founding Assembly of the Migrante International Europe Chapter. She said that the Chapter Organising Committee has been formed from existing Migrante Chapters in Europe, and they are already hard at work preparing for the Assembly which will be held in Rome, 9-12 December 2016. The MIE-COC is calling on other Filipino migrant organisations in Europe to join them in establishing the Migrante International alliance in Europe.###

    <hr>
    Contact details:
    Migrante Europe
    Postbus 15687, 1001 ND Amsterdam
    NB: For schedules of upcoming summits and consultations in other European cities, please check www.migrante.eu

    For references:
    Ann Brusola, Umangat-Migrante Rome – +39 327 8825544
    Rafael Joseph Maramag, Kanlungan UK – +44 795 848 2753

  • Migrante-Milan matagumpay na inilunsad

    Migrante-Milan matagumpay na inilunsad

    Migrante-Milan
    Communique

    02 Mayo 2016
    Milan, Italy
    Unang Kongreso – Mayo 1, 2016

    Matagumpay na naidaos sa unang pagkakataon ang makasaysayang kongreso ng Migrante-Milan chapter nitong nakaraang Mayo uno, kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng pandaigdigang araw ng paggawa. Ito ay inilunsad sa viale Monza 40 Milan, Italy na nilahukan ng humigit-kumulang sa 60 katao na kung saan 56 ang nagpahayag ng kusang-loob na pagsapi.

    Sa ilalim ng temang “Pahigpitin ang Pagkakaisa, Isulong AngDemokratikong Interes Ng Ating Sektor, Itatag Ang Tunay na Organisayon Ng Migrante”, nilinaw sa mga migrantengmanggagawa dito sa Milan ang napapanahong pangangailangan nito na maitatag ang isang organisasyong tunay na magsisilbi at magsusulong ng interes at kagalingan ng sektor ng migrante kasabay ang pagsusulong ng interes ng sambayanang Pilipino. Naniniwala ito na ang paglutas sa ugat ng suliranin sa lipunangPilipino ang s’yang papawi sa suliranin sa migrasyon ng Pilipinas,
    kung kaya’t wastong manawagan ng ibayong pagkakaisa sa hanay ng migrante.

    Nagkaruon ng maikli ngunit makabuluhang paglalahad ng kasaysayan ng migrasyon sa Pilipinas at sa mga obhetibong kundisyon na nagtulak sa pagkakatatag ng Migrante International nuong 1994. Kabilang din sa kasaysayang ito kung paano ang naging pag-iral ng Migrante-Milan bago pa man idaos ang pormal na kongresong ito.

    Matapos ang paglalahad ng kasaysayan, nagkaruon ng payak ngunit makabuluhang parangal sa pumanaw na si kasamang Sol Pillas, tumayong Pangkalahatang Kalihim ng Migrante International (2014-2016). Taas kamaong kinanta ng buong asembliya ang “Bayan Ko” bilang munting alay sa kasama at bukal sa pusong nag-ambag ang bawat isa ng kaunting halaga bilang tulong pinansyal sa kanyang naiwang pamilya.

    Bago talakayin at aprubahan ang saligang batas ng organisasyon ay ipinakita at binasa ang mga video at sulat ng pahayag nang pakikiisa mula sa iba’t ibang balangay at alyadong organisasyon tulad ng Migrante-Europe, Umangat-Migrante Roma, KanlunganConsortium-UK, OFW Watch-Italy at ang mismong Migrante International sa pamamagitan ng mensaheng video ni ka Gary
    Martinez, tagapangulo. Sinundan din ito ng isang presentasyon na video ng isang anak ng kasapi na kung saan kinanta ang “Tatsulok” ng dating grupong Buklod.

    Naging masigla at buhay ang talakayan sa pag-apruba ng binalangkas na Saligang Batas ng organisasyon kung saan nagkaruon ng ilang pagsusog at pag-amyenda, kabilang na rito ang pagtatakda ng sapi at butaw sa organisasyon at ang dalas ng pulong ng asembliya. Sa huli’y pinagtibay at sinang-ayunan ng lahat ang Saligang Batas. Ipinakita rin ng mga dumalo ang kanilang pagsang-ayon sa pamamagitan ng kusang loob napagpapasa ng kani-kanilang mga membership form at ang ilan ay nagbayad na kaagad ng kanilang sapi at butaw.

    Nagkaruon din ng masiglang pagbabahagi sa ilang mga dumalo ng kanilang mga karanasang nagpapatotoo sa mga suliraning kinakaharap nating mga migrante tulad na lamang ng mga namamatay na migranteng kailangan ng tulong pinansyal ngunit hindi miyembro ng OWWA. Halimbawa ito ng ilan lamang sa mga usaping kagyat na haharapin ng organisasyon.

    Ang halalan ng pamunuan nito ay masaya, masigla at aktibong nilahukan ng lahat kung saan nahalal sina Ed Turingan bilang taga-pangulo, Cecil Morales bilang pangalawang taga-pangulo,
    Franklin Irabon bilang pangkalahatang kalihim, Lea Gulle bilang pangalawang pangkalahatang kalihim at si Alma Panis bilang ingat-yaman. Binuo din sa asembliyang ito ang mga komite sa organisasyon, edukasyon at propaganda, kultura, tulong serbisyoat pinansya.

    Inaprubahan ng pangkalahatang asembliya ang pang isang taon Pangkalahatang Programa ng Pagkilos nito na sasaklaw mula 01 ng Mayo 2016 hanggang 30 Abril 2017. Binibigyang diin ng naturang programa ng pagkilos ang pag-oorganisa sa hanay ng migrante, pagbibigay ng mga pag-aaral at pagsasanay para sa higit pang sandata sa kritikal na pagsusuri ng kanilang sariling kalagayan bilang sektor, paglulunsad ng mga pagkilos para sa kongkretong pagsasakatuparan ng pagsusulong ng interes at kagalingan ng migrante at sambayanang Pilipino at ang pakikipagkaisa nito sa malawak pang bilang ng iba’t ibang demokratiko at makabayang sektor at mamamayan ng ibang nasyon.

    Umaasa ang lahat na ang kongresong naganap ay umpisa pa lang nang tuloy-tuloy na pagpapalakas, pagpapalawak at pagkilos ng Migrante-Milan para sa pagtataguyod ng mga demokratikong karapatan at kagalingan ng mga ofw at ng kanilang pamilya.

    Mabuhay ang manggagawang Pilipino !
    Mabuhay ang Migrante-Milan !

    Ed Turingan
    Tagapangulo
    Migrante-Milan

  • Mga migrante sa Roma kinondena ang panghihimasok at pagyurak ng US at China sa ating soberenya

    Mga migrante sa Roma kinondena ang panghihimasok at pagyurak ng US at China sa ating soberenya

    Roma, Italya. June 14, 2015

    Sa kasagsagan ng pagdaraos ng araw ng kalayaan sa Piazza Ankara, ay nagsama-sama ang mga Migrante sa Roma, Italya para kondenahin ang ginawang panghihimasok ng US at CHINA sa ating karagatan at pagyurak sa ating Pambansang Soberanya. Pinangunahan ito ng mga organisasyon gaya ng UMANGAT-MIGRANTE, OFW WATCH ROME, FEDERATION OF WOMEN IN ITALY, MAKABAYANG ATAS NG SUPREMO ANDRES BONIFACIO, BIKERS IN ROME at iba pang mga Liders at indibiwal. Namahagi din ang Umangat-Migrante sa nasabing pagdiriwang ng polyeto na naglalaman ng pagsusuri at paninindigan sa pagdaraos ng araw ng ating kalayaan.

    Sa pangunguna ng  Bantay West Phil.  Sea, Rome ay nagsagwa rin ng pag-ikot sa mga booth ng mga filipino community at organization na nakikiiisa sa pagdiriwang upang hingin ang suporta para makiisa sa mga pagkilos upang tutulan ang panghihimasok ng Bansang Tsina sa ating nasasakupang bahagi ng karagatan. Kasama sa isinagawang pag-ikot na ito ang mga organisasyon gaya ng Umangat-Migrante, Ofw Watch-Rome, Federation of Women at iba pang makabayang organisasyon. Isinisigaw din ang panawagang “ATING ANG PINAS, CHINA LAYAS” habang umiikot ang mga nasabing organisasyon at mahigpit naman itong sinuportahan ng ating mga kababayan na nadaraanan.

    Nagkaisa ang mga nasabing organisasyon na magsagawa pa ng panibagong pagkilos para tuloy-tuloy na ipanawagan ang pagpapatigil sa panghihimasok ng bansang US at CHINA sa ating karagatan at pambansang soberanya.

    TUTULAN, LABANAN ANG PANGHIHIMASOK SA ATING BAYAN!
    ATIN ANG PINAS, US-CHINA LAYAS!
    DEFEND OUR SOVEREIGNTY, HANDS OFF US-CHINA IN THE PHILS.!
    LABOR EXPORT POLICY IBASURA!

    —————————————————-

    Ipaglaban ang tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya

    Ngayong Hunyo 12, 2015, Araw ng Kalayaan, buhayin natin ang diwa ng ating mga dakilang bayani – sina Bonifacio, Rizal, Jacinto, Mabini at marami pang iba  – na naglunsad ng rebolusyonaryong  pakikibaka at nag-alay ng kanilang buhay para makamit ang kalayaan mula sa mananakop na Kastila. Nananatiling makabuluhan ang kanilang magiting na halimbawa  sa harap ng nagpapatuloy na katiwalian at pagpapakatuta sa dayuhang interes ng rehimeng US-Aquino.

    Kalayaan sa gubyernong korap

    Talamak ang korapsyon sa sistema ng pulitika sa ating bansa. Ang Napoles P10 bilyong pork barrel scam ay isa lamang sa mga nabibistong katiwalian sa bulok na sistema. Kitang-kita ang pagtatakip ni Pres. Aquino sa kanyang mga alipores. Hindi isinasama ng Commission  on Audit, Department of Justice at Ombudsman sa kanilang mga imbestigasyon ang mga anomalya sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino. Kabilang dito ang pandarambong sa Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), Malampaya Fund at Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) mula 2010-2013.

    Sa totoo lang ang sistemang pork barrel ay bahagi lamang ng mas malawak at organisadong sistema ng pagnanakaw ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno, mula pa nang itayo ang Republika ng Pilipinas.  Ang korapsyon ay talamak sa gubyerno pero ang pinakamalalang pandarambong ay nagaganap sa tanggapan ng Pangulo, ng mga iba’t ibang ahensya ng gubyerno, ng Konggreso’t mga malalaking lokal na pamahalaan.   May tawag dito –  BURUKRATA KAPITALISMO – sistema ng pagkamal ng yaman ng mga opisyal sa gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan at pagsunod sa utos ng mga amo nilang malalaking asendero, malalaking negosyante at mga dayuhang bansa at korporasyong multinasyunal. Sa ilalim ng burukrata kapitalismo, ginagawang isang malaking negosyo ang paggugubyerno, negosyong nagsisilbi sa iilang naghaharing uri at mga dayuhang monopolyo kapitalista habang nagpapahirap sa sambayanan, lalu na sa masang manggagawa at magsasaka. Hangga’t hindi tayo lumalaya sa bulok na sistema ng burukrata kapitalismo marami pang Napoles at mga korap na pulitiko ang mamamayagpag sa kanilang pagnanakaw at pagpapahirap sa bayan.

    Kalayaan sa dayuhang paghahari

    Hindi rin tayo malaya sa paghahari ng mga dayuhan, pangunahin na ang imperyalistang Estados Unidos, na dati nang sumakop sa ating bansa pagkatapos makipagkutsabahan sa kolanyalistang Espanya. Sa katunayan, ibabalik pa nga ang mga base militar ng Kano (na sinipa na mula sa Pilipinas noong 1991) sa pamamagitan ng bagong kasunduang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

    Gagamitin din ng imperyalismong Kano  ang kapangyarihang militar upang pwersahin ang iba’t-ibang bansa tulad ng Pilipinas na sumunod sa kanilang mga dikta. Kabilang rito ay ang higit pang pagbukas ng ekonomiya ng mga bansang ito upang gawing tambakan ng kanilang mga produkto at kapital; ang pagpapababa ng sweldo at benepisyo ng mga manggagawa sa kapakinabangan ng mga dayuhang kapitalista’t mga kasosyo nila; ang pagkontrol ng mga dayuhang dambuhalang korporasyon sa industriya ng tubig, kuryente, langis at komunikasyon; ang pag-amyenda ng Konstitusyon at pagbasura sa iba pang mga batas para payagan silang magmay-ari ng lupa at mga negosyong nakareserba sa mga Pilipino tulad ng niraratsadang “Chacha” sa Konggreso sa kasalukuyan.

    Samakatuwid, pinatitindi ng gobyernong Aquino ang nagpapatuloy na dominasyon ng US sa Pilipinas sa ilalim ng umiiral na huwad na kalayaan . Ito ang IMPERYALISMO o NEOKOLONYALSIMO  – sistema kung saan ang mga mahirap at atrasadong bansa ay di-tuwirang pinaghaharian ng mga abanteng kapitalistang bansa upang dambungin ang kanilang likas yaman, pagkakitaan ang murang lakas-paggawa at pigain ang pambansang ekonomya. Ang malala pa ngayon, ang dambuhalang kapitalistang bansang Tsina ay nagiging mas agresibo sa pagtatangkang saklawin ang halos buong West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) kasama na ang bahagi ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas dahil na rin sa udyok ng malakas na presensyang militar at panghihimasok ng imperyalismong US.

    Laban para sa tunay na kalayaan at demokrasya

    Ang tatlong salot sa lipunang Pilipino – imperyalismo, pyudalismo at burukrata kapitalismo — ay nagsasadlak sa ating bansa sa kumunoy ng malapyudal at malakolonyal na pagsasamantala’t pang-aapi.  Kailangan ibagsak ang sistemang ito at patalsikin ang anumang rehimeng nagtataguyod nito, tulad ng rehimengUS-Aquino.

    Kailangan isulong ang laban upang wakasan ang pang-aalipin, pandarambong at panggigyera ng mga imperyalistang bansa, lalu na ng imperyalistang US at TSINA.

    Laban sa pagpapaalipin sa ibang Bansa

    Kabilang tayong mga migrante sa inaaping sektor sa ating Lipunan, dahil sa kawalan ng trabaho para mapagkunan ng ikabubuhay ay napipilitan tayong makipagsapalaran at iwanan and ating mga mahal sa buhay para magtrabaho sa ibang bansa. Subalit dahil sa kapabayaan ng ating pamahalaan marami sa ating kapwa migrante ang naging biktima ng Human Trafficking at illegal recruiter. Halimbawa na lamang dito si Mary Jane Veloso na magpahanggang sa ngayon ay nakakulong sa bansang Indonesia at may naka-ambang hatol na kamatayan at ang mahigit na 300 ofws pang nakakulong sa ibang-ibang bansa na karamihan ay may hatol na kamatayan. Tinatayang nasa mahigit sampung porsyento ng ating populasyon ang bilang nating mga migrante at patuloy pa ang pagdami dahil na rin sa Labor Export Policy na pinatutupad ng ating pamahalaan, na sa halip na lumikha ng trabaho sa ating bansa ay ginagawa pa tayong kalakal at gatasang baka. Kung magiging malaya sana tayo sa tatlong salot na ugat ng ating kahirapan at kawalan ng trabaho ay hindi na natin kailangan pang mangibang bayan para mabuhay tayo at ang ating pamilya.

    Kailangan nating ipagpatuloy ang dakilang laban ng ating mga bayani para sa isang bansang malaya, maunlad at demokratiko, at sa tapat, makabayan at makamamayang sistema ng pamamahala. Kailangang makipagkaisa tayong mga OFWs sa lahat ng aping sektor sa ating lipunan upang matagumpay nating mapalaya ang ating Bansa sa tatlong salot na nagpapahirap sa ating Mamamayang Pilipino.

    Mga Migrante at Mamamayang Pilipino Magkaisa!
    Tutulan at Labanan ang Panghihimasok sa ating Bayan!
    Tunay na Soberenya at Kalayaan Ipaglaban!
    Panagutin ang lahat ng sangkot sa Korupsyon!
    Labor Export Policy Ibasura!
    Komite sa propaganda – Umangat-Migrante

  • PARTICIPATE: Stand Up for Human Rights! Join the #EndImpunity Photo Challenge!

    PARTICIPATE: Stand Up for Human Rights! Join the #EndImpunity Photo Challenge!

    The #EndImpunity Photo Challenge is a social media campaign in support of the IPT’s call for truth, accountability, and justice as a public opinion tribunal.HOW IT WORKS

    On June 16, to mark the ONE MONTH COUNTDOWN to the IPT, supporters are called to take a photo that represents the pain suffered by victims of human rights abuses under the Aquino administration.

    To participate:

    1.     TAKE A PHOTO of yourself BLINDFOLDED and GAGGED holding up a sign that reads:

    #EndImpunity
    #PeoplesTribunal
    tinyurl.com/2015ipt

    2.   POST your photo on social media.

    ●      for FB– make FB profile pic and/or post on wall
    ●      for twitter– time TBD, twitter rally (retweet initial photo or tweet photo of yourself), since Wed is better for social media
    ●      post on instagram, tumblr, and other social media platforms

    3.  Visit the International Peoples Tribunal Facebook Page<https://www.facebook.com/events/1579657442313012/> for info and instructions on upcoming #EndImpunity Facebook and Twitter rally dates during the 1-month countdown.

    Hashtags:

    #EndImpunity
    #PeoplesTribunal
    #BeTheJudge
    #AquinObama

    IPT url:
    tinyurl.com/2015ipt

    Sample posts:

    twitter: Countdown to #PeoplesTribunal Intl community crying to #EndImpunity by prosecuting #AquinObama
    FB: Let’s put #AquinObama on trial and #EndImpunity. Justice for all victims of human rights abuses in the Philippines! #PeoplesTribunal

    For more information, please visit: internationalpeoplestribunal.org
    In solidarity (and on behalf of the conveners),Angie M. Gonzales
    Coordinator
    International Coalition for Human Rights in the PhilippinesPaul Quintos
    IBON International
    IPT 2015 Philippines Coordinating Secretariat

  • Neither the claws of the Dragon nor the Eagle: we stand for a truly independent Philippines

    Neither the claws of the Dragon nor the Eagle: we stand for a truly independent Philippines

    Press Statement
    June 12, 2015

    On the occasion of June 12, Bayan calls on the Filipino people to stand in defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity against the foreign powers that seek to tear the Philippines apart. Today we are reminded that the Philippines is not truly free.

    We denounce in the strongest terms the aggressive actions and incursions of China in the West Philippine Sea, in blatant violation of the UNCLOS. China’s imperialist agenda is behind the grabbing of our seas and islands. We vow to resist such actions and call on the people to fight back through the various political and diplomatic means available to us.

    We likewise reject the increasing US intervention in the maritime dispute with China. The US cares not for Philippine sovereignty and territorial claims and is merely concerned with freedom of navigation in international waters. The US is more interested in reestablishing is bases and increasing its troop presence in the Philippines as part of its pivot to Asia. Decades of US military presence in our country has brought us never-ending woes and has severely and shamefully undermined our sovereignty.

    Both the US and China connive to exploit the Philippine economy, including our workforce and our natural resources. Both have economic interests in the Philippines. Both stand to gain from the ongoing efforts to change the economic provisions of the PH Constitution.

    We will not be caught in the claws of the Dragon nor the Eagle. We stand for a truly free, independent and self-reliant Philippines. We stand for an independent foreign policy based on our national interest and respect for our sovereignty.

    We assail the puppetry of the Aquino regime who up to now has no strategic plan for developing the domestic economy and our capacity for external defense. As with the economy and everything else, Aquino relies on foreign interests to boost our external defense vs China. This is precisely what keeps us weak. Aquino has failed to lay the foundation for an effective external defense not reliant and dictated on by the US.

    We are not helpless in the face of the big powers. Our people are our greatest strength. A patriotic movement is now developing to counter China’s incursions and US intervention.

    In the coming days we vow to:

    1.       Continue holding protest actions against the imperialist designs of the US and China.

    2.       Conduct a wide-scale education campaign on the matter of Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity and mobilize the people for their defense

    3.       Press the Philippine government to undertake the necessary steps to defend Philippine sovereignty in our waters and islands while rejecting one-sided pacts such as the US EDCA

    4.       Press the PH government to nationalize the industries and enterprises of the countries that commit hostile acts against the Philippines

    5.       Fight for national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform as the main requisite for developing and strengthening the economy so that we can have a basis for an effective defense capability.

    We reiterate our solidarity with the working people of China and the US, that they too oppose the imperialist agenda of their governments and promote peace instead of imperialist aggression.

    To Filipino people, it is time to rise up. Tindig, Pinas! Tindig Pilipino! Ipagtanggol ang soberanya at integridad sa teritoryo ng ating Inang Bayan! ###

  • The International Peoples’ Tribunal on Crimes of Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III and the US Government as Represented by Pres. Barack Obama Against the Filipino People

    The International Peoples’ Tribunal on Crimes of Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III and the US Government as Represented by Pres. Barack Obama Against the Filipino People

    The International Peoples’ Tribunal on the Crimes of the Philippine and US Governments Against the Filipino People (IPT 2015) is being convened at the behest mainly of victims1 of human rights violations and other crimes committed under the Presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III in the Philippines and President Barack Obama in the United States.

    These entities shall be brought before a court of public opinion where concrete evidence shall be presented of their violations of the Filipino people’s individual and collective rights under international law. They will be brought for judgment before the broadest possible international audience.

    The IPT 2015 embodies the right of peoples to hold states to account. It stems from the failure of the Philippine State and international institutions to uphold standards as embodied in Philippine as well as international laws and instruments under International Human Rights Law including the core human rights conventions and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed in 1998 by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

    The IPT 2015 derives its legitimacy from the people as the ultimate source of the authority of all national and international laws. Its verdict shall be based on a thorough and fair assessment of the evidence by leading public figures of recognised achievement and high moral stature, in accordance with applicable legal standards.

    The Peoples’ Tribunal draws inspiration and builds on the gains of previous peoples tribunals convened to condemn similar crimes by previous regimes in the Philippines. These include, among others, the:

    • Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (First Session on the Philippines) [PPT1] of 1980 in Antwerp, Belgium (“Repression and Resistance, “ against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos at the suit by NDFP and the Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF)

    • International Solidarity Mission- International People’s Tribunal [ISM-IPT] of 2005 in Manila (“In Defense of a People Fighting Repression; against human rights violations by

    1 The victims and their relatives — belonging to a wide spectrum of social classes and sectors in Philippine society – are represented by the Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (EcuVoice), KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of the People’s Rights), Hustisya! (Victims United for Justice), DESAPARECIDOS (Families of the Disappeared for Justice), SELDA (Society of Ex-Detainees Against Detention and Arrest), BAYAN (New Patriotic Alliance), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines) among others.

    President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo);

    Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (Second Session on the Philippines) [PPT2] of March 2007 in The Hague, The Netherlands (The Filipino People vs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, George W. Bush, et.al: indicting the US-backed Arroyo regime for human rights violations, economic plunder and transgression of Philippine sovereignty); and

    International Migrants Tribunal [IMT] of November 2012 in Manila (In Defense of Migrant Workers’ Rights: counterpoint to the Global Forum on Migration and Development)

    The verdicts of these tribunals delivered strong moral and persuasive force. Their conclusions and recommendations were transmitted to the United Nations, various Parliaments and governments, as well as broad international organizations to add pressure on the Philippine government to stop the killings and other gross human rights violations in the country.

    The resulting international uproar against the spate of extra-judicial killings under the term of President Arroyo, for instance, contributed to a decrease in the incidence of such killings in the latter part of 2007. The temporary decline was a very welcome respite for the Filipino people under siege.

    Holding the hearings and gathering support especially from the peoples of the US are particularly strategic because of the US government’s historical and decisive influence in Philippine affairs.

    In 2007, US Senator Barbara Boxer, Chair of the Sub-Committee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, acknowledged in a U.S. Senate hearing, “It is important we (Americans) do not have blood on our hands. . . . If we are training the (Philippine) military with our hard-earned tax dollars, our concern about the military cannot be discounted . . . the war on terror cannot be used as an excuse to kill innocent civilians.”

    The International Peoples’ Tribunal (IPT) in 2015 shall help raise national and international public visibility of the ongoing violation of people’s rights in the Philippines, exercise moral suasion and help generate further political pressure on the governments of the Philippines and the US to end impunity.

    OBJECTIVES:

    The overall objective of the IPT 2015 is to expose the crimes not only of the current Philippine government as represented by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III against the Filipino people but also those of the US government, under the watch of President Barack Obama.

    Specifically, the IPT aims to:

    − Exert greater international pressure on the Philippine and US governments to stop human rights violations in the Philippines, including extrajudicial killings and disappearances;

    −  Establish by sufficient credible evidence according to international norms and standards that these violations are part of state policy which is being perpetrated with impunity by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and paramilitary and armed groups under their command and control;

    −  Establish the complicity of the Commander-in-Chief Aquino and the top military and police officials in the killings, disappearances and other gross human rights abuses;

    −  Show the various systematic and systemic violations of economic, social and cultural rights of the Filipino people through the imposition of exploitative policies and programs;

    The complaints and presentations shall consist of the following:

    Violations of human rights, particularly civil and political rights, with focus on extrajudicial killings, disappearances, massacres, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as other vicious, brutal and systematic abuses and attacks on the basic democratic rights of the people.

    Violations of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights of the Filipino people through the imposition of imperialist globalization to exploit the people; transgression of their economic sovereignty and national patrimony; various forms of economic plunder and attacks on the livelihoods of the people and the destruction of the environment.

    Violations of the rights of the people to national self-determination and liberation through the imposition of the US war of terror; US military intervention; as well as the perpetration of crimes against humanity and war crimes; misrepresentations of the people’s right to national liberation and self-determination as “terrorism” and the baseless “terrorist” listing of individuals, organizations and other entities by the US and other governments.

    July 16 to 17, 2015: Hearings
    July 18, 2015: Deliberation and Presentation of the Verdict July 20, 2015: Service of the Verdict

    Washington D.C.

    Oral Presentation of Evidence under oath (either by affidavits or depositions) by victims and experts

    on very select illustrative cases for each issue (either in person or through web though other cases can be submitted through documentary evidence)

    Issues and Charges (Initial)

    Violation of Civil and Political Rights

    Human Rights Violations and Impunity

    Political prisoners

    Marcos victims’ compensation beneficiaries (delisted victims)

    Violations of International Humanitarian Law

    Violation of Socio, Economic and Cultural Rights

    Hacienda Luisita

    Yolanda, Pablo and Sendong typhoons

    Labor contractualization

    Urban poor demolitions

    Power rate hikes and other basic services

    Migrants/OFW cases

    Privatization of public hospitals

    Environmental

    Mining

    Corruption

    Onerous trade agreements; neoliberal globalization, economic plunder

    Charter change to open up of economy to increased foreign exploitation

    Violation of the Right to Self-Determination and the Right to Resist

    Oplan Bayanihan

    EDCA and US military intervention (case of Jennifer Laude)

    GPH-NDFP Peace Negotiations

    Some Cases carried over from the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

    EJK

    Enforced Disappearance

    Torture

    Legal Bases

    National and International Instruments including 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966 International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention against Torture and related instruments, Convention against Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance, 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1977 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, 1976 Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples (Algiers Declaration), 1949 Geneva Conventions, 1977 Protocols 1 and 2, 1992 Hague Joint Declaration, 1995 Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), 1998 Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and

    International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, among others.

    Organization of the Tribunal:

    Conveners:

     International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)  International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
     National Lawyers Guild
     IBON International

    Concerned international organizations and networks who have come together to organize and convene the International Peoples’ Tribunal on Crimes of the US-Aquino Government Against the Filipino People.

    Endorsers, Partners and Sponsors:

    Personages and representatives of institutions and organizations who are interested in the issues of peoples’ rights, human rights and international law, and who wish to extend moral support and concrete assistance to the Tribunal, shall be invited to become Endorsers, Partners and Sponsors to the Tribunal. They will also endorse the Tribunal to their existing contacts and assist the organizers in reaching out further to the international community.

    Plaintiffs/Complainants:

    Representatives of the Filipino people: victims of the crimes of the US-Aquino regime; HR groups, various people’s organizations and their contituencies

    Ecu Voice (Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines)

    Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples’ Rights)

    Hustisya (Pagkakaisa Ng Mga Biktima Para Sa Hustisya Inc. or Unity of Victims for Justice)

    Selda (Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto or Society of Ex-Detainees

    Against Detention and Arrest)

    Desaparecidos (Families of the Disappeared for Justice)

    Bayan (Bagong Alyansang Makabayan or New Patriotic Alliance)

    KMU (Kilusang Mayo Uno or May 1st Movement)

    KMP (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas or Philippine Peasant Movement)

    Gabriela – Alliance of Filipino Women

    KADAMAY (Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or National Alliance of Filipino Urban

    Poor)

    other mass organizations and individual victims in the Philippines and abroad

    Defendants:

    Philippine President Benigno Simeon S. Aquino III

    US Government as represented by President Barrack Obama

    International Monetary Fund

    World Bank

    World Trade Organization

    Multinational Corporations

    Judge/s:
    1- 3 international personages or eminent person/s with at least 1 with a legal background

    Jurors:
    9 – 11 individuals of diverse backgrounds and different disciplines, with at least 3 with a legal background; representing the peoples of the world

    Judges and Jurors composed of internationally distinguished personages will sit in the Tribunal. They shall formulate the verdict and pass a judgement at the end of the Tribunal. They shall also discuss these at a press conference.

    Prosecutors/Legal counsels to victims and witnesses:

    National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL)

    Public Interest Law Center (PILC)

    Individual (international) lawyers

    Defense Lawyers (will be assigned by the Tribunal if no appearance from Defendants)

    Clerk of Court and Deputy Clerks of Court

    IPT 2015 Secretariats: Two secretariats have been constituted to assist the conveners: The Philippines Coordinating Secretariat which shall perform the staff work for the Tribunal preparations in the Philippines and the International Coordinating Secretariat to serve as the center of communications for all entities involved in the project and to coordinate the technical and other preparations for holding the tribunal, including financial and political support. These 2 secretariats are headed by Paul Quintos of IBON International and Dr. Angie M. Gonzales of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines respectively.

    For more information and updates: www.internationalpeoplestribunal.org


    ==========================
    Mr. Ramon Bultron
    Managing Director
    Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)

    President
    World Association for Christian Communications – Asia Region (WACC-AR)

    Office Address: G/F, No. 2 Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
    Telephone: +852-2723-7536
    Fax: +852-2735-4559
    Email: [email protected], [email protected]
    Website: www.apmigrants.or

  • On the Kentex Factory Fire – Statement of the fact-finding team

    Dear friends,

    Karapatan shares with you this statement of a member organization Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR)  on the results of their fact finding mission on the fire incident at the factory of Kentex Manufacturing Incorporated which killed more than 72 workers.

    Public Information Desk
    Karapatan

    16 May 2015
    http://ctuhr.org/on-the-kentex-factory-fire/
    Seventy-two (72) workers, many of whom were women, were burned to death and 20 more are still missing in the biggest factory fire that hit the Philippines – the fire that gutted the factory of Kentex Manufacturing Incorporated last May 13, 2015. The company, located along Tatalon Street in Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela City, manufactures rubber slippers for sale and distribution in various parts of the Philippines.

    Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz claimed that the factory passed an inspection on compliance with general labor standards and occupational health and safety standards that was conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on September 2014.  The Bureau of Fire Protection reportedly also gave the factory a fire safety inspection certification.

    However, the fact-finding team which was composed of labor NGOs namely, the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), the Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER), and the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD), and the national labor center of Kilusang Mayo Uno, which visited the area on May 14, found glaring violations of standards pertaining to general labor conditions and to occupational health and safety. It is most likely that these violations caused the tragic and massive loss of lives in the recent fire.

    These violations include:

    → Mishandling of the chemical Super Seal, which is used as a rubber emulsifier. Survivors of the fire whom the Team interviewed said that the fire started on the ground floor of the two-storey building when the welding spatter from roll up door being repaired by an outside contractor reacted with the chemical that wasunsafely placed on the factory’s floor and was not kept in a separate and safe stockroom.

    This clearly violates Rule 1943.07 on storage of the  Occupational Safety and Health Standards of 1989. The Rule provides that “(1) Significant quantities of commodities with fire hazards greater than ordinary combustible commodities shall be separated from the main bulk by fire walls.”

    → Absence of proper labeling and awareness of the nature of the said chemical. Workers, including the welder who was fixing the gate of the factory compound, were not aware that the chemical is highly flammable as it was not properly labeled. Survivors also said that when smoke started to rise from the sacks of the chemical where the welding spatter fell, there were workers who poured water, which only caused the fire to become bigger. The fire was already huge when the workers attempted to put it off by using the fire extinguisher. Immediately after using the fire extinguisher, they were immediately engulfed by black smoke.

    Absence of proper labeling violates Rule 1093.04 on Marking of Containers which requires “All containers with hazardous substances shall be properly labelled. No employer … shall accept any container of hazardous substances for use, handling or storage unless such containers are labelled.”
    → Absence of proper smoke and fire alarm and apparent absence of fire and safety drill among the workers. Survivors also noted that even when the ground floor was already filled with smoke, workers in the assembly line and the office staff at the second floor still continued working. They said the fire spread so quickly that they were trapped inside and there was no other way for them to go out except through the main door. They also recounted that they heard no fire alarm. They also claimed that workers in the second floor of the building were trapped as it was impossible for them to go through the door with such a strong fire coming from the building entrance. Workers who had been working for years in Kentex have not experienced any fire and safety drill conducted by the management. When asked about the Safety Officer, workers interviewed did not know if there was one.

    These are clear violations of Rules on alarm and fire drills. Rule 1948.01 states that “(1) All buildings having two or more stories in height shall be equipped with fire alarm system and signals of distinctive quality and pitch clearly audible to all persons inside the building.” Rule on 1948.03 requires that “(1) Fire-exit drills shall be conducted at least twice a year  to maintain an orderly evacuation of buildings, unless the local fire department requires a higher frequency of fire drills.”

    → Absence of fire exits. The factory compound had NO fire exits and there were only two gates, one is for people and the other is for delivery trucks. The factory windows are covered with steel grills and chicken wire which could not easily be destroyed even during emergencies. Witnesses said that workers at the second floor attempted to break the windows open until they could no longer be seen from the outside. Workers who were able to escape the compound even had to climb the walls at the back as the gate for delivery trucks was locked. Out of the more than 70 workers on the second floor, only four workers escaped by squeezing themselves through an opening and jumping out of the building.

    Rule 1943.03 requires “(1)  At least two exits shall be provided in every floor and basement of every workplace capable of clearing the work area in five (5) minutes,” and “(6) On every floor, except the ground floor, one of the exits shall lead to an inside stairway or a smokeproof tower, while the other exits shall lead to inside stairways, smoke-proof towers or horizontal exits.”

    With all these glaring and clear OHS violations of Kentex Manufacturing, how did the Department of Labor and Employment release an OHS compliance certificate to Kentex in year 2014? How can the lack of fire exits inside the workplace premise pass the evaluation conducted by DOLE inspectors? If these were pointed out during that inspection, corrective measures could have been implemented to ensure occupational safety of workers in Kentex and evade the loss of lives. The issuance of DOLE to Kentex Manufacturing, an OHS standards violator, as complying to OHS standards, makes DOLE primarily accountable to the deaths of the 72 workers in this tragedy. DOLE failed its role in ensuring that workers are protected and their lives are safe and secure inside the workplace.

    Working conditions

    Kentex Manufacturing Corporation is owned by Mr. Beato Ang and Mr. Ong King Guan.   Apart from the clear violations of occupational health and safety standards, worker survivors in Kentex also reported violations of general labor standards, contrary to the claims made by the Labor Department.

    Only workers who served for 20-25 years in the company are considered “regular” workers, while those who have been working for an average of 10 years are considered “casual” workers. These regular and casual workers comprise a minority of the workforce and receive only the minimum wage despite having worked for the company for many years. Workers say that the union is a “company union” with around 30 members.

    There are more than 100 workers out of the less than 200 workers who were hired by the CGC agency and were receiving only a daily wage of P202 plus P187 to P220 daily allowance, depending on the number of years of service. Agency workers also complain that they discovered that the CGC agency did not remit their SSS, Philhealth and PAG-IBIG contributions and that whenever they complain, the agency would only return their contributions instead of enrolling them in the said mandatory social benefits.

    Workers also complain that they have to bear the heat inside the factory during work hours as there is no proper ventilation in the factory. They claim that they get tired of work not because of the heavy workload but because of the heat inside the factory premises.

    Apart from the daily-paid casual workers who were hired by the manpower agency, there were also workers who were hired on “pakyawan” or piece-rate basis. These workers work for 12 hours a day without formal contract. Mary Ann Tenis, 30 years old and a single parent of three children, was one of the victims. Her youngest was just nine-month old, according to a friend who was waiting for news about her friend. Tenis had worked for Kentex for five months and was hired as a piece-rate worker.

    Almost an entire family was burned to death, with both parents working for Kentex and their three high-school children taking a summer job in the factory. The tragedy orphaned a child enrolled in primary school.

    The victims’ families say that they lost their loved ones and their bread winners in the fire. They are pained by their relatives’ death and they are pained by the difficulty in identifying the bodies of their loved ones and giving them a proper burial. They are anxious about what the future holds, thinking of how they can support family members who were left behind.

    Call for justice, criminalization of violations that result in deaths

    We mourn the death of scores of workers in Kentex and we express our deepest condolences to their families, friends and co-workers. We connect their unjust death with the tragedies that also claimed the lives of 11 construction workers in Bulacan, 8 female workers of AsiaTech in Pasay, 10 construction workers in Eton Towers, and 17 women workers at Novo in Butuan. Many had died but no one had been prosecuted or held criminally liable, constituting impunity in industrial safety.

    Successive occupational accidents leading to deaths of workers only prove that existing policies and rules on occupational health and safety standards continue to fail in protecting workers and avoiding tragic accidents. Even the joint assessment and tripartite monitoring system mandated by DOLE Order No. 131-13 that superseded DO 57-04 – which was much-criticized as for promoting companies’ “self-assessment” with regard to occupational health and safety standards – apparently fall short in ensuring that factories and workplaces comply with occupational health and safety standards.

    Workers’ safety and health cannot be left to the mercy of companies’ self-regulation or voluntary compliance. Workers’ basic rights to occupational health and safety should not be hinged on companies’ voluntarism but rather on strict enforcement by the government. From this perspective, it is justifiable to claim that DO 131-13 is in essence the same as DO 57-04, except that it uses the rhetoric of tripartism. It still still about the government’s abnegation of its regulatory responsibility. With the lack of genuine workers’ representation through a legitimate and independent union, and with the government working in cahoots with employers, tripartism from this end is nothing but hollow mechanism that masks employers’ sole power in the workplace.

    Let not the tragedies in Kentex, Novo Jeans, Eton, among others happen again and claim the lives of more workers. Thus, we demand:

    (1) Hold the DOLE and the Bureau of Fire Protection who gave the company compliance certification accountable for the factory fire and deaths of almost a hundred workers and employees. Investigate the process of inspection for the issuance of compliance certification of Kentex. Impose criminal and administrative penalties/charges (?) to key DOLE officials in-charge of the issuance of the compliance certificate.

    (2) The imposition of criminal and administrative penalties on Veato Ang et al., owner of Kentex, and all owners of companies who have clearly violated occupational health and safety standards that resulted in the death of workers.

    (3) Just compensation for the families of victims, proper benefits for workers who lost their jobs after the fire, and long-term support for orphaned children.

    (4) Repeal of DO 131-13 and immediate passage House Bill 4635 or Workers’ SHIELD  (Safety and Health Inspection and Employers’ Liability Decree) that will make violations of occupational health and safety standards both criminal and administrative offenses, while providing victims avenues for justice.
    We call on the families of victims of Kentex accident to rise up and demand justice for their loved ones. We also call on the people to demand justice for Kentex workers and all other victims of occupational accidents by joining the national day of mourning on Monday, 18 May 2015.
    Justice for Kentex workers and other victims of OHS Standards violations!
    Strict Enforcement of Occupational Health and Safety Standards, not Joint Assessment or Self-Regulations!
    Hold DOLE accountable for the Kentex Tragedy!
    Penalize and criminalize the violators of Occupational Health and Safety Standards!
    End impunity of OHS violations in the Philippines!
    Repeal DO 131-13! Pass Workers SHIELD!
    Struggle against Contractualization! Workers fight for Wages, Jobs and Rights!
    Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development
    Center for Trade Union and Human Rights
    Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research
    Kilusang Mayo Uno
    ———————————————————————
    PUBLIC INFORMATION DESK
    [email protected]
    ———————————————————————
    Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
    2nd Flr. Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin corner Matatag Sts., Central District
    Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES 1101
    Telefax: (+63 2) 4354146
    Web: http://www.karapatan.org