Migrante Europe

Category: Press release

Open Letter of Filipino Migrants to Pope Francis

Pope of the Poor, Fight with Us: An Open Letter of Filipino Migrants to Pope Francis
December 18, 2014
Reference: Garry Martinez, Chairperson, 0939-3914418

Pope of the poor, fight with us.

We are Filipino migrants, immigrants, refugees from all over the world who, together with our families, call upon Your Eminence, to bear witness to our struggle. We call on you to speak in behalf of overseas Filipinos in our quest for a better life. We have experienced first-hand human and labor rights abuses and exploitation. Hear our stories and join us in our fight against modern-day slavery.

Of present, an estimated 15 million overseas Filipinos are found in over 230 countries. Massive unempoyment, landlessness, poverty and globalization have been forcing our countrymen to migrate. There exists a widespread desolation, hopelessness and desperation that have caused the Filipino people’s diaspora.

Pope of the poor, fight with us. In your tenet to build “A Church without frontiers, mother to all”, we likewise reach out to you with open arms and hearts for our common objective to open the doors of Your Church worldwide in the spirit of genuine service to the people.

Like you, we stand firm that forced migration is an anomaly and a matter of deep concern involving the lives and dignity of our migrant workers. Ours is now an era of modern-day slavery wherein our migrant workers and their families are subjected to most cruel conditions in favor of greed for remittances and the desecration of human rights.

Pope of the poor, fight with us. We have seen the absence of legal frameworks that genuinely promote and protect the rights and welfare of our OFWs and their families. We have dissected and evaluated the efficiency or lack thereof of existing government programs and discussed ways to bring these to the concern of our authorities. We realize that the Philippines has many policies and laws on migration that need to be translated into concrete action.

We have seen that the continuation and intensification of the government’s labor export policy would only add more to the sufferings of our people, making them more vulnerable to human and labor rights abuses. We ask of you to speak out against this policy. We need to address the fundamental conditions of our society, especially the unequal distribution of wealth and work among nations which drives our people to forced migration.

Pope of the poor, fight with us. We agree with you that human trafficking is indeed “a crime against humanity”. It is a violation of our fundamental rights. It breeds the evils of discrimination, criminalization of undocumented migrants and all forms of violence, oppression and enslavement.

We are also greatly disturbed and moved by the tragedy of the separation of families. We cry for the sufferings and pains of children left behind and growing up without proper guidance, parents and couples estranged from each other, and the resulting economic, emotional and psychological implications of loved ones being uprooted from their families.

We call on you to work hand in hand with migrants’ organizations and advocates in support of the plight of our Filipino migrants. There are still many things that need to be done. Pope of the poor, fight with us.

We call on Your Eminence, that through Your Office, you can help us in organizing and broadening our reach and making our voices resound. There is a dire need to consolidate our efforts in various parts of the world. Together, let us face the challenge of holding the cause of Filipino migrants and their families.

Pope of the Poor, fight with us. In the spirit of service to the people, together, let our aspirations and advocacies be realized. ###

13 January 2015
LABANAN ANG PANGANGALAKAL AT PANG-AALIPIN, PALAKASIN ANG MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL

Mensahe sa Ika-7 Kongreso ng Migrante International
Ni Prop. Jose Maria Sison
Tagapangulo, International League of Peoples’ Struggle
Disyembre 16, 2014

Ang internasyonal na pamunuan at lahat ng kasaping-organisasyon ng International League of Peoples’ Struggle ay nagpapaabot ng taos pusong pagbati at militanteng pakikiisa sa Migrante International sa ika-7 Kongreso nito. Humahanga kami sa inyong mga tagumpay at hinahangad naming umani pa kayo ng ibayong tagumpay batay sa inyong kasalukuyang lakas at sa inyong paglalagom at pagbabalak sa kongresong ito.

Napakahalaga at napapanahon ang tema ng inyong kongreso: Labanan ang Pangamgalakal at Pangaalipin sa Pilipino sa Ibayong Dagat at sa kanilang Pamilya! Isanib ang Lumalakas na Kilusang Migranteng Pilipino sa Daluyong ng Mamamayan para sa Tunay na Pagbabago!”

Karapat-dapat na magpursigi ang Migrante International sa pagpupukaw, pag-oorganisa at pagpapakilos ng mga migranteng manggagawang Pilipino upang labanan ang pang-aapi at pagsasamantala sa kanila at ipagtanggol at isulong ang kanilang mga karapatan at kapakanan at upang itaguyod ang tunay na pagbabago sa Pilipinas at pag-unlad nang sa gayon magkatrabaho sila sa sariling bayan imbes na umalis sa bayan at mapahiwalay sa pamilya.

Dahil sa kawalan ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industryalisasyon, sapilitang nagtratrabaho ang milyun-milyong kababayan natin sa ibang bansa. Patakaran ng rehimeng Aquino na pasidhiin at pabilisin ang pangangalakal at pang-aalipin sa Pilipino sa ibayong dagat. Patunay ito ng paglubha ng disempleo at pagbagsak ng kita sa bansa.

Ipinagmamalaki ng rehimen ang lumalaking foreign exchange remittance ng mga migranteng manggagawa. Umaabot na ito sa USD 28 billion at mga 8.7 porsyento ng Gross National Product (GNP). Mas malaki pa kaysa bahagi ng tradisyonal na iniluluwas na produktong agrikultural. Sa pangkalahatan, pangsustento ito sa mga pamilya ng mga migranteng manggagawa ang foreign exchange remittances nila.

Matapos na maipalit sa peso, ang kitang foreign exchange ng mga migrante ay pinakikinabangan ng mga bangko, malaking komprador at korap na opisyal na may mga foreign exchange accounts. Hindi ito ginagamit para sa pagpapaunlad ng ekonomiya kundi para sa pagpapanatili ng sistema ng pagkonsumo na dependiyente sa pag-aangkat ng yaring kalakal, pangungutang at panlulustay at panluluho..

Lantarang nagsisinungaling ang rehimen sa pagsasabi na mabilis ang paglaki ng ekonomiya at mayroon nang “reverse migration” o malakihang pagbabalik ng mga migranteng manggagawa. Ang paglaki naman ng GNP sa ilang taon ay dahil sa tinaguriang “hot money” o portfolio investments na pumapasok sa stock market, bond market at money market at hindi lumilikha ng mga empresa at empleyo kundi kumikita lamang ng tubo sa espekulasyon at madaling umaalis, tulad ng nangyayari na ngayon.

Malaki ang hinuhuthot ng gobyernong reaksyonaryo mula sa mga migranteng manggagawa. Sa pamamagitan ng Administrative Order 31, pinahigpit at pinataas ng rehimeng Aquino ang mga singil sa ilalim ng OWWA, Pag-ibig, Philhealth,
Department of Foreign Affairs, airport at iba pang ahensiya. Ngunit wala o labis na limitado ang mga serbisyo at benepisyo na naibibigay ng gobyerno sa mga kaso ng aksidente, pagkakasakit at pagkamatay at iba pang panganib sa panahong may kontrata o wala nang kontrata ang migranteng manggagawa.

Walang ibinibigay ang gobyerno na proteksyon at pangangalaga sa mga karapatan at kapakanan ng mga migranteng manggagawa. Bale wala sa rehimeng Aquino ang demanda na pagsabihan ang mga gobyernong tumatanggap sa mga migranteng mangggawa na irespeto ang mga karapatan nila. Hindi ipinapatupad ng rehime and Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act (RA 10022,
amended RA 8042), Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) and the Overseas Absentee Voting Act (RA 9189).

Wala o salat ang tulong sa mga kaso ng karahasan, panggagahasa at pagpaslang sa mga migranteng manggagawa, sa paglabag ng mga kontrata at arbitraryong pagpapatalsik at sa mga malakihang paglikas dahil sa gera, gulo, paghihigpit o kalamidad. Sa normal or abnormal na pagtatapos ng mga kontrata sa trabaho, walang maliwanag na komprehensibong plano sa reintegrasyon ng mga balikbayan.

Ang bisa ng mga dati ninyong pagsisikap sa pag-organisa sa mga migranteng manggagawang Pilipino at mga pamilya nila sa Pilipinas ay nakikita sa pagkakaroon ninyo ng 30 chapter sa labas ng bansa at 21 sa loob ng Pilipinas. Umaasa kami na batay sa mga pag-uulat ng mga global coordinator at mga chapter delegation at talakayan ng kongreso maitatakda ninyo ang mga tungkulin at pamamaraan para maiangat sa bago at mas mataas ng antas ang inyong gawain at pakikibaka.

Malaki ang potensyal ng Migrante International sa gawain, pakikibaka at ibayong tagumpay dahil nasa ibayong dagat para magtrabaho ang mga 12 hanggang 15 porsyento (12 hanggang 15 milyon kung isama ang walang dokumento) ng populasyon ng Pilipinas o hindi bababa sa 24 por syento ng labor force na mga 62 milyon. Tantiyang 30 hanggang 40 porsyento ng mga Pilipino ang dependyente sa kita ng mga migranteng manggagawa.

Karamihan sa mga migranteng manggagawa ay kasambahay o tagalinis ng mga bahay at opisina, staff sa mga hotel at restaurant, health workers sa mga ospital, mga caregiver, skilled at unskilled workers sa mga pabrika, construction at engineering projects at crew ng mga barko. Galing sila sa ibat ibang dako ng Pilipinas.

Ang mga migranteng manggagawang Pilipino ay nasa higit na 200 bansa at teritoryo sa lahat ng kontinente (Asia, Australia, North America, South America, Africa at Europe). Pinakakonsentrado sila sa United States (3.5 milyon); sa Saudi Arabia (1.8 milyon ); at Canada (639,686). Konsentrado rin sila sa United Arab Emirates, Australia, Qatar, Malaysia, Japan, United Kingdom, Hong Kong at Singapore.

Kapag mabisang masaklaw ninyo ang mga konsentrasyon ng migranteng manggagawa, magkakaroon kayo ng lakas at kasanayan para abutin ang nasa iba pang bansa. Mas madaling maugnayan din ninyo ang mga migranteng manggagawa sa mga barko kung sa mga mayor na daungan makakapagtayo kayo ng mga pwesto na kombinasyon ng opisina, tindahan at tambayan. Mainam din kung sa Pilipinas may organisasyon ng mga pamilya ng mga migranteng manggagawa at kung may lugar ugnayan o tambayan na pinupuntahan ng mga migrante bago umalis o sa pagbalik.

Mataas ang pagtingin namin sa Migrante International at itinuturing naming isa ito sa mga mayor na kasaping-organisasyon ng ILPS. Malaki ang utang na loob ng ILPS sa Migrante International sa tulong nito na maging global ang saklaw ng ILPS at sa pagpaparami ng manggagawa sa batayan ng ILPS . Mapagpasya rin ang inyong organisasyon sa komisyon ng ILPS na may kinalaman sa mga migranteng manggagawa ng ibat ibang di-maunlad na bansa at sa pagbubuo ng International Assembly of Migrants and Refugees.

Mabuhay ang Migrante International!

Mabuhay ang mgamigranteng manggagawa!

Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

16 December 2014
Haiyan’s first anniversary

One Year of Anguish, Desperation and Abandonment…What does the future hold for Haiyan’s Survivors?

It has been a year ago, on 08 November 2013, since Haiyan struck Eastern Visayas, It was the strongest typhoon on record to ever hit the Philippines.

In the city of Tacloban, almost nothing was left, only destroyed establishments and livelihood, wrecked houses and vehicles, and lifeless bodies, an estimate of 10,000 dead. .

Survivors had to contend with cold and hunger — there was no food, no clean water. Facilities and medicines for the injured was so scarce that a lot more died even after the typhoon. “The Aquino government was very slow to respond, and the survivors were neglected and abandoned!” said by Sister Stella Matutina OSB of RMP and SAMIN, during a human rights forum last May in Rome.

Foreign aid for the Haiyan victims came from international communities, the British public alone gave £25 Million. Were these financial aid really distributed to the rightful recipients?

Philippine Congress has passed a P14.6 B (US$324 Million) supplemental budget for the survivors and the Aquino government has received a pledge of P24.9 B (US$553Million). Where are these funds now?

After one year of promised funds and new homes, the Yolanda survivors have received practically nothing from the Aquino government. Some may be fortunate to rebuild their homes and livelihood, but a great majority are still living in tents and sub-standard temporary shelters. They have no electricity, no sanitation facilities, no running water, and no hope of receiving aid from the Aquino government.

The Yolanda victims needed help a year ago and they still need help and our solidarity now!

On Sunday, November 9, 2014, in Rome, there will be a Tribute for Yolanda victims during the Cultural Night with Inter-ethnic group and Italian friends. This event is organized by the Metropolitan Council (Consiglio Metropolitano), in collaboration with other migrant groups, UMANGAT-Migrante and ICHRP Rome.

Press Statement
November 9, 2014

Buboy Salle
Spokesperson, ICHRP Rome
Cel: +39 329 3289652

8 November 2014
Migrante International condemns criminalization of undocumented migrants in EU-wide crackdown

October 20, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference: Sarah Katrina Maramag, Campaign Coordinator, 0921-7417469

Global alliance of overseas Filipinos Migrante International condemns in strongest terms the ongoing crackdowns resulting in the criminalization of undocumented migrants and refugees being implemented by the European Union.

The EU-wide crackdown called “MOS MAIORUM” has launched massive police operations to hunt down undocumented or irregular migrants and refugees in the region. Operations have started last October 13 and is set to end on October 26. MOS MAIORUM has been approved by the Council of the European Union last July 10, 2014 and is being implemented under Italy’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Overseas Filipino workers and Filipino migrants in Europe have expressed grave concern as more than 20,000 police officers have been deployed in massive operations ranging from increasing checks in airports, stations, trains, main roads and highways to house raids. The main objective of the operations is to actively hunt down undocumented migrants and arrest as many as possible within the time frame of its implementation.

“We call on the European Union to call for a stop this inhumane operation. Under the guise of going after crime and trafficking syndicates, MOS MAIORUM is giving license to EU authorities and police to indiscriminately arrest and violate the rights of irregular migrants, and promote xenophobia and racial discrimination,” said Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairperson.

Martinez said that MOS MAIORUM is in direct violation of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. These conventions do not discriminate against undocumented and irregular migrant workers, he said.

“Being undocumented is never reason to be stripped of one’s fundamental human rights. Undocumented migrants and refugees, who inevitably provide solutions to labor shortages or the clamor for cheap labor in host countries, especially in times of economic crisis, should not be marginalized and exploited. They are already less able to assert their claims and are more vulnerable to abuses. MOS MAIORUM will only make them more susceptible to grave abuses and human rights violations.”

Martinez said that while they fully support moves to prevent human trafficking, Migrante believes that MOS MAIORUM will not solve but rather further exacerbate the problem. Instead of arresting irregular migrants and treating them as criminals, their status should be rectified because it makes them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation by crime syndicates.

Further, MOS MAIORUM is being implemented at a time when health epidemics, civil wars and conflicts in the Middle East-North Africa region and elsewhere in the world continue. Millions of people are on the run because of these. Such a situation makes it a tool for crime and trafficking syndicates to intensify their activities. Constricting borders and implementing stringent immigration policies will not only cost lives but will also worsen trafficking in persons in the region, Martinez said.

Migrante International supports the international campaign for the de-criminalization and legalization of undocumented migrants and refugees.

According to December 2011 data of the Department of Foreign Affairs, there is an estimated 746,701 Filipinos in Europe, 138,088 are undocumented. ###

Website: http://migranteinternational.org
Office Address: #45 Cambridge St, Cubao, Quezon City
Telefax: 9114910

20 October 2014
More protests vs. human rights and corruption continue to hound BS Aquino in Paris, Berlin, Rome and Vienna

Activists in Paris say “oui!” to oust Aquino; Spanish organizations assail Aquino

20 September 2014

More protests greeted BS Aquino as he swings around Europe, this time in Paris, France.

According to Cora Guibernas, a member of the Nagkakaisang Pilipino Sans Papier (NPSP) in Paris, France, which belongs to the MIGRANTE Europe network, Aquino was taken aback when several French solidarity activists for the Philippines and NPSP members raised posters and a big tarpaulin of Aquino’s face with the words “Human rights violator” and “Pork barrel king” as he was greeting compatriots outside the church venue where he was to deliver a speech.

A major Philippine TV network showed Aquino surprised and was immediately whisked away by his security when he saw the protesters.

“Aquino was exposed for his lies about his human rights record and his scandalous corruption as he swings around Europe. Our problems and plight are not in the agenda of Aquino, especially us Filipinos here in France who always face the threat of arrest and deportation because many of us are undocumented”, Guibernas stressed.

To emphasize the point that the situation in the Philippines is even worse now under Aquino, Guibernas cited records from the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) report that 1.8 million Filipinos left the country for work in 2013 which is equivalent to a record 5,031 leaving the country every day. This is more than the daily average of 4,937 leaving in 2012, she said.

Filipinos protest even in Italy and Austria

Even in countries such as Italy and Austria which BS Aquino avoided during his European junket, Filipinos conducted protest actions. In Rome, Italy, members of Umangat-MIgrante held a picket infront of the Philippine embassy in Rome last September 19, to protest OWWAs anti-migrant policies, Aquino’s human rights record and continued use of pork barrel which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional.

In Austria, Migrante Austria wrote an open letter to the Filipino people to coincide with the Europe visit of Aquino.

In the letter, copies furnished to the European Parliament president Martin Shulz, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, Migrante Austria denounced BS Aquino’s European tour as “a costly junket, an absolute waste of time and money”. It said Aquino lacks the dignity and integrity needed to effectively foster better relations with foreign governments.

“He has a human rights record that is incompatible with democracy. From July 2010 to March 2014, Karapatan, a Philippine-based human rights watchdog, has documented cases of 192 victims of extrajudicial killings, 21 cases of enforced disappearance, 94 of torture and 631 cases of illegal arrests and detention. Included in these figures are twenty-six journalists reportedly murdered since President Aquino took office. It is no wonder that the Asian Human Rights Commission ranked the Philippines as the 3rd most dangerous place for journalists and activists – from trade union activists to human rights defenders alike. We underscore the fact that up to now there is still no justice for two European citizens murdered under Aquino’s counterinsurgency scheme — missionaries Fr. Pops Tentorio of Italy and Willem Geertman of the Netherlands. All of these are attributable to his Oplan Bayanihan,” Migrante Austria said.

Migrante Austria adds: He remains deaf and blind to the plight of an ever-growing number of Filipinos who are exploited cruelly as undocumented domestic helpers here in Europe and any other place imaginable or even risk their lives in war- torn countries rather than return to the Philippines. This is the harsh indication of Aquino’s Labor Export Policy (LEP) failure to uplift the economy and solve unemployment and poverty in the Philippines.

Biggest organizations in Spain express concern over human rights and corruption under Aquino

In Spain, nine big national organizations, led by the APDHE (Human Rights Association of Spain), which holds consultative status to the ECOSOC of the United Nations, wrote a strongly-worded letter to BS Aquino in time for his visit in that country last September 14-15.

The letter was personally delivered to the Philippine embassy in Madrid by Hon. Mauricio Ots, a member of the regional parliament in Madrid representing the Izquireda Unida political party, on the day of Aquino’s visit.

In the letter, the Spanish organizations expressed deep concern about the human rights situation in the Philippines.

“From July 2010 (the year of his presidential inauguration) until June 2014, 204 extrajudicial executions; 21 forced disappearances, 99 cases of torture; 207 of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 664 illegal arrests and detentions; 39,800 forced evictions; 65,712 cases of threats, harassment and intimidation; 141,490 cases of using civilians as a human shield or guide for the armed or security forces; 141,490 cases of military use of public places such as schools, medical or religious centers, were documented,” the Spanish organizations said.

They asked Aquino to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, end pork barrel corruption and account for the monies his government received for the victims of typhoon Haiyan.

The organizations that signed the letter were: APDHE (Human Rights Association of Spain), COMADEHCO (Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia), ICID (Initiatives for International Cooperation for Development), IEPALA (Institute of Political Studies for Latin America and Africa), IU (United Left), Justice for Colombia, OSPAAL (Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America), GM-Greens Confederation, CDHHG (Human Rights Commission Hispano-Guatemala).

Filipinos and Germans in Berlin join protests

Filipinos and Germans in Berlin, Germany also joined the bandwagon of protests during Aquino’s visit to Germany, Sept. 19-20, the last leg of his Europe junket. The German-Philippine Solidarity Group, the MLPD party, the Concerned Filipino-Germans in Berlin and Filipino Scholars in Berlin conducted the protests.

BS Aquino leaves Europe Sept. 20 for the United States leg of his foreign junket where more protests are expected to greet him there.#

Reference:

Grace Punongbayan
MIGRANTE Europe
[email protected]
+31633056411

20 September 2014
Protesters hound BS Aquino in Belgium over his dirty record on human rights and corruption

Progressive Filipinos and their Belgian solidarity friends picketed President BS Aquino as he delivered a speech at the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, Belgium yesterday Sept. 16.

The protest picket was spearheaded by Migrante Europe and joined by members of the Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) and the Belgian solidarity organization INTAL. The protesters carried placards that stated: BS Aquino human rights violator, Aquino king of thieves, Keep off disaster funds, Justice for Willem Geertman and Fr. Pops Tentorio, and No to EDCA!

They also distributed the statement “Enough of BS Aquino, Corrupt and Brutal Ruler! Never again to another Marcos dictatorship”, which was signed jointly by several European human rights, solidarity and Filipino organizations across Europe.

Queried by the media covering the event, Rev. Cesar Taguba of Migrante Europe asserted: “We are here to raise concerns over the corruption, human rights abuses and tyranny of Aquino.” He said Aquino is misinforming the EU about the real situation in the Philippines and that the protest is one way of exposing this.

According to Reverend Taguba, BS Aquino obviously took the backdoor to enter the venue to avoid the protesters. The meeting, he said, was supposed to start at 6:30 pm, but Aquino’s entourage delayed their arrival at the venue at around 6:50 pm.

The protesters shouted such slogans as “Noynoy, shame on you!” BS Aquino, Taguba stressed, could not hide his regime’s corruption, human rights violations, puppetry to the US and trying to follow Marcos with his term extension scheme, during this Europe visit.

Inside the Egmont Institute, one of the members of INTAL Brussels Philippine Group who listened to BS Aquino’s speech, questioned Aquino on his human rights record, during the question and answer that followed.

“I am delighted to hear that the protection of human rights is part of your government program. Because the numbers are not good: 204 activists murdered, 208 others in prison, 21 cases of enforced disappearances … all since the beginning of your presidency,” Johan of INTAL said.

Another INTAL participant in the Egmont meeting, Fanny Polet, writing on her blog afterwards said: “He (Aquino) also answered to another question about the economic partnership agreement, ensuring us of his will to accelerate it. This is not really something we are looking forward to, when we see the social damages such a policy would give rise to…..” She said critical leaflets for distribution titled “Time for President Aquino to tackle the Philippines’ dirty, open secret” and “Stop torture”, made their way on the registration table at the Institute.

A team of Belgian policemen tried to disperse the picket, but the protesters stood their ground and asserted their right to express their views over serious developments in the Philippines.

Major Filipino news channels (GMA News, TV5, ABS-CBN) covered the protest. However, two Filipino media persons were harassed and almost prevented from entering the Egmont Institute by Aquino’s security personnel after they were allegedly observed “sympathizing” with the protesters.#

Reference:

Grace Punongbayan
MIGRANTE Europe
[email protected]
+31-6-33056411

[photos by Jon Bustamante]

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17 September 2014
Press Statement on the visit of Benigno Aquino to France

17 September 2014

On the 17th of September, Philippine president Benigno Aquino III has visited Paris, in the larger context of a trip to four European countries – Spain, Belgium, France and Germany.

In an attempt to ensure international support for his government’s future plans he has met up with Francois Hollande and Emmanuel Valls. He also passed by the chapel Sainte-Bernadette and the Embassy of the Philippines. According to official statements Aquino’s goals in France are to dialogue with the Filipino community, bilateral discussions with France’s government and the signing of the “Philippines-France Defense Cooperation Agreement”.

He also wants to thank France for its support to the victims of cyclone “Yolanda” or “Haiyan” This seems to be a usual, harmless official visit, yet put into context there is another image that presents itself.

It is a fact that the money European countries raised to help the victims of the storm has at a large scale never reached the victims themselves. It has disappeared, although when it reappears, it does in the form of pork barrels or on private bank accounts of the Aquino-Clan and its close friends which is not hard to understand, knowing that Aquino, in his position as president of the Philippines, has direct and absolute control over public funds.

There is still over 15.000 people living in tent camps because their houses were not rebuilt after the storm and there are many farmers, whose harvests were destroyed and who did not get one centavo of help, to overcome their misery, not to talk about the general population. Under those terms it is cynic of B.S. Aquino to thank France for its help, like a bank robber who thanks the director of the bank he robbed for his kindness and compassion.

As well it is a slap in the face of all the Filipinas and Filipinos working overseas because it is them who actually helped the cyclone victims, by sending money to the Philippines for that they worked hard in foreign countries. That by itself would legitimize protest and resistance against Aquino and his government, but there is worse!

In the recent past Aquino has announced plans to extend his presidential term by modifying the constitution, although in the history of the Philippines there has already been one dictator that started his bloody and cruel reign by doing exactly that – giving himself a longer term.

Today, this seems to be any dictator-to-be’s method of choice to start out his career. Internationally there could be negative reactions to those political developments, therefore Aquino checks and measures his allies’ reactions in the forehand to avoid a critical loss of international support during his way to absolute power. As well there is no lack of preparation to militarily oppress protest movements. With the signing of the “Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” U.S. Troops can now be stationed on the Philippines in higher numbers and on a larger horizontal scale. The planned signing of the “France-Philippines Defense Cooperation Agreement”, including arms deals, logistical and educational support adds up to the overall accelerating militarization under the Aquino government.

Finally, in the last years, international human rights organizations have documented a fast growing number of human rights violations, from extrajudicial killings and torture to illegal detention. This development can and has to be seen as a possible preparation of the Aquino-Clan to defend itself against a growing Filipino opposition.

Due to those reasons we are calling upon all Filipino migrants in France and elsewhere to organize themselves to oppose this government. Righteously so, Aquino calls his government ‘daang matuwid’ because it leads straight into dictatorship and misery.

We are not powerless, even overseas. If there is a strong opposition against Aquino in the European countries, he will probably lose international support, which would make a big difference to the Philippines’ political development and to the Philippines’ history that will be written in the years to come.

As a start, we staged a protest yesterday at the Chapel “Sainte Bernadette” – speaking out loudly against corruption and human rights violations!

Signed:
Concerned Filipinos in France

17 September 2014
500 Migrants Feared Dead After Boat Sinks In Mediterranean

Ideastream.org, September 15, 2014

The International Organization for Migration says the incident took place last week when people smugglers rammed a vessel carrying hundreds of refugees hoping to reach European waters.

Some 500 migrants trying to make their way from Egypt to Malta by boat are believed to have drowned last week after people smugglers reportedly rammed and sank their vessel, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The IOM report is based on reports from the few survivors of the tragedy who say the group of Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians and Sudanese had hoped to eventually reach Europe.

In a separate incident, some 70 Libyans were feared drowned in a similar tragedy involving the sinking of a migrant boat.

The Telegraph says of the first tragedy that “if confirmed [it] would rank as the worst disaster in the Mediterranean for years.”

The newspaper says the story “was recounted by two Palestinians who spent more than a day floating in the water before being picked up by a Panama-flagged merchant vessel about 300 miles off Malta.

“They were brought to the port of Pozzallo in Sicily at the weekend, where they told their story to IoM officials.

“Nine other survivors were rescued by Greek and Maltese rescue vessels.”

The survivors said there had been a confrontation as smugglers tried to move migrants to a smaller boat. Christiane Berthiaume, a spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration, told The Associated Press that traffickers “used one boat to knock the other,” apparently causing the sinking.

By way of background, the AP says: “Refugee numbers have swelled as thousands of people flee conflicts in Syria, Iraq and across the Middle East and Africa, boarding unsafe smugglers’ boats in Libya. Nearly 110,000 people have been rescued since January, but at least 1,889 others have died making the perilous crossing, according to the U.N. refugee agency.”

We have reported on a number of such incidents in the past, going back as far as 2011.

Last month, NPR’s Sylvia Poggioli reported on Italy’s efforts to tackle the problem, saying: “Reports of migrant boats in distress have become a near-daily news headline over the past year.”

Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

15 September 2014
Migrante Austria open letter on Aquino Europe visit

“It is clear that BS Aquino is undeserving of the office he holds – we need an honorable President to lead, represent and uphold the rights and interests of the Filipino people!”

An open letter to the Filipino people

copy furnished:
Philippine Embassy in Austria at [email protected]
Office of the President at [email protected] / [email protected]
Office of the Philippine Senate President at [email protected]
Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives at https://www.facebook.com/HouseSpeakerFelicianoBelmonteJr,
European Parliament President Martin Shulz at https://www.facebook.com/PresidentEP,
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel at [email protected] and Belgium Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo at [email protected] )

We at Migrante Austria denounce BS Aquino’s current European tour as a costly junket, an absolute waste of time and money.

BS Aquino definitely lacks the dignity and integrity needed to effectively foster better relations with foreign governments.

Here are just a few of the issues of concern to us, Filipinos in Europe:

He has a human rights record that is incompatible with democracy. From July 2010 to March 2014, Karapatan, a Philippine-based human rights watchdog, has documented cases of 192 victims of extrajudicial killings, 21 cases of enforced disappearance, 94 of torture and 631 cases of illegal arrests and detention. Included in these figures are twenty-six journalists reportedly murdered since President Aquino took office. It is no wonder that the Asian Human Rights Commission ranked the Philippines as the 3rd most dangerous place for journalists and activists – from trade union activists to human rights defenders alike. We underscore the fact that up to now there is still no justice for two European citizens murdered under Aquino’s counterinsurgency scheme — missionaries Fr. Pops Tentorio of Italy and Willem Geertman of the Netherlands. All of these are attributable to his Oplan Bayanihan.

Since he “took over, what can be seen is the indisputable trend of worsening poverty and living condition…
From 2010 to 2014 (first quarter), the number of Filipino families that consider themselves poor is growing by 700,000 a year (or 3.5 million Filipinos annually at 5 members per family)
From 2010 to 2013, the number of Filipino families that experience hunger is increasing by 200,000 a year (or 1 million Filipinos annually)

From 2010 to 2013, the number of jobless Filipino workers is expanding by 500,000 a year.” http://arnoldpadilla.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/poverty-trends/

He remains deaf and blind to the plight of an ever-growing number of Filipinos who choose to be exploited cruelly as undocumented domestic helpers here in Europe and any other place imaginable or even risk their lives in war- torn countries rather than return to the Philippines. This is the harsh indication of Aquino’s Labor Export Policy (LEP) failure to uplift the economy and solve unemployment and poverty in the Philippines.

He has been rightfully accused of the “highest betrayal of Philippine sovereignty” with the signing of the defense agreement, which it called “the resurrection of US military bases in the Philippines using the Chinese incursion hysteria to justify the return of (more) troops and nuclear-powered war vessels …“

He stubbornly refuses to give up the system of discretionary funds despite the decision of the Supreme Court declaring the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional. He willfully and knowingly disbursed the astronomical amount of P174B through the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), his very own scheme that “became a source of corruption and a tool to control other branches of government.”.

Almost one year after the vast devastation caused in the Philippines by the tropical cyclone Haiyan (Yolanda), he takes a mendicant gesture and continues to ask assistance from international donors (including Europe) while snubbing survivors demanding the delivery relief and rehabilitation… there are still around 15,000 survivors living in tent cities, bunk houses and evacuation centers and hundreds of farmers are still asking for the relief while waiting for the harvest of their rice and other products… Hundreds of workers are unemployed because the business and commerce have not been fully restored…”

Contrary to his claims, he has failed to negotiate in good faith and to honour the ground rules of the peace talks between the government and the NDFP that is being mediated by the Kingdom of Norway: the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL), the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and other agreements since 1992.

BS Aquino has no business going on junkets – the Filipino people need public funds for social services, national industrialization and genuine land reform!

It is clear that BS Aquino is undeserving of the office he holds – we need an honorable President to lead, represent and uphold the rights and interests of the Filipino people!

Migrante Austria
Email: [email protected]

15 September 2014
Letter of Spanish organizations to BS Aquino on his visit to Spain

(see rough translation below)

VIAJE A MADRID DEL PRESIDENTE DE FILIPINAS:
Carta de organizaciones españolas a Benigno S. Aquino III.-

Han entregado una carta en la Embajada de Filipinas pidiéndole, a la vista de las numerosas violaciones de derechos humanos documentadas en su país, que tome las disposiciones necesarias para ponerles fin y acabar con la impunidad existente en Filipinas desde la época de Ferdinand Marcos hasta nuestros días.
____________________________________________________________

Sr. Presidente de la República de Filipinas
BENIGNO AQUINO III
Madrid, 15 de septiembre de 2014

Sr. Presidente:

Con motivo de su visita a España y concretamente a Madrid, hubiéramos deseado ofrecerle una bienvenida más cordial como Presidente democrático de la República de Filipinas.

No obstante, nos vemos en la obligación moral de aprovechar su corta estancia en Madrid para hacerle partícipe de nuestra gran preocupación ante las informaciones que, por diversos conductos y al margen de ideologías, venimos recibiendo desde hace tiempo sobre la situación de los derechos humanos en Filipinas:

De julio 2010 (año de su investidura presidencial) hasta Junio de 2014, se han documentado 204 ejecuciones extrajudiciales; 21 desapariciones forzosas, 99 casos de tortura; 207 de ejecuciones extrajudiciales frustradas, 664 de arrestos ilegales y detenciones; 39.800 desplazamientos forzados de población; 65.712 casos de amenazas, hostigamientos e intimidaciones; 141.490 casos de utilización de la población civil como escudo humano o guía para las fuerzas armadas o de seguridad; 141.490 casos de uso militar de lugares públicos tales como escuelas, centros médicos o religiosos. Las cifras podrían variar entre unas investigaciones y otras, pero la gravedad de los hechos permanece inalterable.

Las personas más vulnerables: campesinado, pueblos indígenas, trabajadoras, defensores y defensoras de los derechos humanos…, son quienes con mayor frecuencia se suelen ver criminalizadas y son víctimas de estos atropellos a las libertades fundamentales.

Aunque somos conscientes de que muy pocos países en el mundo se ven libres de escandalosos casos de corrupción, Vd. conoce bien los sentimientos de ira y desesperación de la ciudadanía filipina, tanto en relación con el desvío de fondos del “Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF)” (más conocido popularmente como “Pork Barrel”), sobre el que el Tribunal Supremo de su país se ha pronunciado de manera contundente, como en lo que tiene que ver con las donaciones, procedentes de la Unión Europea y de algunos de sus gobiernos, destinadas a las víctimas del tifón Yolanda/Haiyan, que causó tanta destrucción y dolor hace ya casi un año. Entendemos que durante su estancia en Europa, Vd. dará cuentas detalladas sobre su distribución.

Sr. Presidente:

Además de pedirle que la República de Filipinas firme y ratifique por fin la Convención Internacional para la protección de todas las personas contra las desapariciones forzosas,
Desde España le instamos, a que vele también por las grandes mayorías empobrecidas de su país y tome las disposiciones necesarias para poner fin a todas las violaciones de los derechos humanos en Filipinas, y que el Derecho a la Verdad, la Justicia, la Reparación y la No Repetición, se haga realidad tanto para las víctimas producidas durante su mandato como en períodos anteriores.

Sr. Presidente, ¡Vd. Puede!

Reciba un atento saludo.

APDHE (Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de España)
COMADEHCO (Comité por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos en Colombia)
ICID (Iniciativas de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo)
IEPALA (Instituto de Estudios Políticos para América Latina y África)
IU (Izquierda Unida)
Justicia por Colombia
OSPAAAL (Organización de Solidaridad con los Pueblos de África, Asia y América Latina)
GM-Los Verdes Confederación
CDHHG (Comisión de Derechos Humanos Hispano-Guatemalteca)

———————————–

MADRID TRIP TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES:
Spanish Letter Benigno S. Aquino organizations III.-

They have delivered a letter to the Philippine Embassy asking, in view of the numerous human rights violations documented in their country, to take the necessary steps to stop them and end the impunity in the Philippines since the time of Ferdinand Marcos to the present days.
____________________________________________________________

President of the Republic of the Philippines
BENIGNO AQUINO III
Madrid, September 15, 2014

Mr. President:

On the occasion of his visit to Madrid Spain and specifically, we wished to offer you a warm welcome as a democratic President of the Republic of the Philippines.

However, we feel the moral obligation to take advantage of their short stay in Madrid to make him share our deep concern about reports, through various channels and outside ideologies, has long been receiving on the situation of human rights in Philippines:

July 2010 (the year of his presidential inauguration) until June 2014, has documented 204 extrajudicial executions; 21 forced disappearances, 99 cases of torture; 207 of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 664 illegal arrests and detentions; 39,800 forced evictions; 65,712 cases of threats, harassment and intimidation; 141,490 cases of using civilians as a human shield or guide for the armed or security forces; 141,490 cases of military use of public places such as schools, medical or religious centers. The figures could vary between a research and other, but the severity of the events remains unchanged.

The most vulnerable people: peasants, indigenous peoples, workers, defenders of human rights … are those most often criminalized and are often seen victims of these attacks on fundamental freedoms.

Although we are aware that very few countries in the world are free of scandalous cases of corruption, you. Knows the feelings of anger and despair of Philippine citizenship right, both in relation to the diversion of funds from the “Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) “(more popularly known as” Pork Barrel “), on which the Supreme Court of the country has ruled conclusively, as it has to do with the donations from the European Union and some of their governments, for victims of Typhoon Yolanda / Haiyan, which caused so much destruction and pain almost a year ago. We understand that during his stay in Europe, you. Give detailed accounts on their distribution.

Mr. President:

In addition to asking that the Republic of the Philippines and firm finally ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance,
From Spain we urge you to also ensure the impoverished majority of their country and take the necessary steps to end all violations of human rights in the Philippines, and the Right to the Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non Repetition reality for both victims occurred during his term as in previous periods.

Mr. President, you. You can!

Yours sincerely.

APDHE (Human Rights Association of Spain)
COMADEHCO (Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Colombia)
ICID (Initiatives for International Cooperation for Development)
IEPALA (Institute of Political Studies for Latin America and Africa)
IU (United Left)
Justice for Colombia
OSPAAL (Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America)
GM-Greens Confederation
CDHHG (Human Rights Commission Hispano-Guatemala)

15 September 2014