Labis labis na ang pahirap. Kasuklam suklam na ang paraan ng pagharap ng administrasyong Duterte sa kasalukuyang krisis ng pandemiya sa Pilipinas. Mahigit dalawang buwan na ang nakalilipas pero wala paring maramdamang anino ng tunay na pagkalinga ang pamahalaang ito sa gipit na kalagayan ng maraming mamamayan, kabilang na ang mga manggagawang Pilipino sa ibayong dagat. Patung-patong na ang kasalanan nito sa pang-araw araw na pananatili pa nito sa pwesto. Ang nakuhang emergency powers ni Duterte sa kalagitnaan ng krisis ng Covid-19 ay ginagamit para lamang magkamal ng militaristang kapangyarihang manupil at hindi upang gamitin sa pagharap at pagsugpo sa sakit.
Kulang na nga at mabagal ang ayuda, nagawa pa ng gobyerno nito na unahin ang pagbabawas ng buwis ng mga malalaking korporasyon sa pamamagitan ng Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) na isa sana sa maaaring panggalingan ng 667 bilyon pisong karagdagang pondo para mailaan sa pagharap sa krisis ng covid. May paluwag siyang binibigay sa mga kakamping oligarkiya habang ang mga “bagong bayaning” ofws ay gigipitin sa pagpiga ng sapilitang bayarin at pagpapasapi sa Philhealth insurance. Samantala, kung hindi pa nangalampag at nag-ingay ang libu-libong istranded na umuwing mga ofw, hindi pa sila makakalaya mula sa mahigit isang buwang pagkakulong sa mga quarantine facilities ng gobyerno.
Ubos na raw ang budget, at kailangan muling mangutang o di kaya’y ipagbili ang ilang asset ng gobyerno, pero hindi malinaw na maipaliwanag kung saan napunta ang 275 bilyong pisong inaprubahan ng kongreso, 500 milyong dolyar na utang sa World Bank at 200 milyong dolyar na utang naman sa Asian Development Bank. Nagawa pa nga nitong unahin ang planong pagbili ng mga armas sa U.S. na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit 75 bilyong piso, liban pa sa nauna nang ginastos nito na 2.4 bilyong pisong halaga ng mga armas mula sa Israel.
Sintunado ang tugtog ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno ni Duterte sa pagsasalarawan ng tunay na kalagayan ng pandemiya sa bansa. Habang si presidential spokeperson Harry Roque ay nagsabing naabot na ang target na 30,000 per day na test sa covid, iba naman ang aktwal na bilang at pahayag ng DOH. Sinasalungat din niya ang subok na at naisapraktikang mass testing sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, na nasa protocol ng World Health Organization (WHO). Pilit na binabaluktot ito sa pagbanggit ng mga terminolohiyang “expanded and targeted” testing. Liban pa rito’y tuluyan ng ipinasa ang obligasyong ito sa pribadong sektor. Sa kasalukuyan 289,732 pa lang ang na test sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin nito’y 2.64 lang sa bawat isang libong tao ang na test . Malayung-malayo ito sa direktiba ng WHO sa panawagang malawakang testing ang kailangan sa pagsugpo sa Covid-19.
Walang nagingibabaw sa batas, liban lamang sa humahawak at nagpapatupad nito! Kaya itong paikutin ng mga nasa posisyon at kapangyarihan. Libu-libo ang hinuli at inaresto sa paglabag sa quarantine, at may kung ilan na rin ang namatay at pinatay. Samantala, ang mga nagunguna sa mga paglabag nito ay mga tauhan ng administrasyon ni Duterte. Masaklap pa, mismong sa bibig ni Duterte lumabas ang pag-aabswelto, tulad na lamang ng kaso ni Gen. Debold Sinas ng PNP.
Mahaba pa ang talaan ng mga kapabayaan ng rehimeng Duterte sa mamamayan at mga manggagawa sa ibayong dagat. Araw araw pa itong nadadagdagan at patuloy na pinatitindi. Ang pinakahuli’y ang pagratsada ng kongreso at senado ng Anti-terrorism bill 2020 na ang pinakalayunin bukod sa pagsupil sa mga katunggali sa pulitika at kritiko ay ganap na maisakatuparan ang militaristang pamamahala katambal ng naunang emergency powers na kanyang nakuha. Hindi man nito nakamit ang pagpapalawig ng kapangyarihan sa pamamagitan ng Pederalismo , ngayon ay madali na itong makukuha sa tambalan ng dalawang nabanggit. Nahubaran na ng tuluyan kung anong anyo mayruon ang kanyang gobyerno.
Ang mamamayan kasama ng mga manggagawang Pilipino sa labas ng bansa ay hindi na makapaghihintay pa ng eleksyon. Sapat sapat na ang mga krimen ng rehimeng ito upang ang taumbayan mismo ang magpatalsik sa kanya sa puwesto. Hindi habang buhay ang paghawak sa kapangyarihan. Hindi habang panahon ang kapabayaan at kasinungalingan. Hindi habang panahon ang pagkikibit balikat at pananahimik. Ngayon ay panahon ng paglaban. Pasismo ng Estado Biguin ! Duterte Patalsikin!
Serbisyong Medikal Hindi Batas Militar! / Free Mass Testing Now! / Universal FREE health coverage now! PUBLIC not private health insurance! / PUBLIC health not private profit! / Health care is a HUMAN RIGHT! / NO to mandatory PhilHealth payments! / NO to mandatory PhilHealth membership!
The Office of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) recently released in social media posts (especially in Facebook) the names of organizations linking pro-people organizations to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP); fomenting threats and condemnations from among the online followers of the military and the Duterte government.
The gross red-tagging of people’s organizations, partylist groups, and even of religious groups is a blatant disregard of basic democratic rights.
These organizations are legal pro-people organizations; the partylist groups elected in Congress (Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT, Kabataan and Anakpawis) are all duly recognized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), each party represents a specific marginalized sector in the country, bringing pro-people concerns thru participation in Congress. And other organizations representing the media, students, indigenous people, migrants, environment, farm workers, urban poor, labor and others.
The religious groups identified are the following: National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR). The tagged organizations are duly recognized faith groups doing spiritual and social ministry to Filipinos, with longstanding history for promoting social justice and defending human rights.
Migrante International, an international organization of migrant Filipinos abroad (and a co-signatory of this call) is one those red-tagged in social media; we manifest our support to Migrante, aware that this organization will not be cowed by this recent malicious branding.
Rodrigo Duterte and his war-freak police and military forces, in the name of National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), is using the dirty-old tactic of red-tagging.
We are all aware that this recent red-tagging is stained with violence and malicious intent as it were in the past, consistently defaming the value of human rights and of our dedication to serve the poor. We want to remind the implementors and campaigners of this red-tagging scheme that we will pursue legal investigation and accountability for the threats, intimidations and violence done to the leaders, organizers and members of the named groups.
We call our fellow Filipinos to never be deceived by the hopeless campaigns of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC); be completely aware that the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other sectors of the state forces are using peoples’ money for this media campaign enterprise; and be vigilant that our own government is sanctioning the killings and salvaging of our activists, organizers and members of peoples’ organizations.
As the country faces the grim impacts of the pandemic, and as the Filipino people are suffering from the incapacities of government response; the military and their agents have still the nerve to instill violence and threats to organizations and individuals. Recently, Carlito ‘Karletz’ Badion, Secretary-General of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) was murdered by the state-forces in Ormoc, Leyte. As we condemn this vicious killing of our comrade, we offer our salute to ‘Ka Karletz’ for his selfless dedication and service to the urban poor.
Our network of organizations in Europe condemn this malicious red-tagging of our allied organizations, fellow activists, and members of the red-tagged groups! We are not terrorists! The Duterte Government is! The AFP-PNP tandem is the one terrorizing our organizers and leaders in the communities, with threats and deaths! You are the terrorists in military clothing!
Greetings of solidarity to all, friends and fellow migrants! We, in Migrante Europe an alliance of Filipino migrants’ organization in Europe, strongly adhere to the call by the organized farm workers for unconditional regularization. We commend your militant initiative for this general strike and for bringing the voices of the “invisible” migrants, immigrants and displace people in the forefront of the up-coming regularization law in Italy.
Like other ”invisible” people, Filipino undocumented migrants and immigrants all over Europe, are strictly suffering from the havoc of this pandemic. In Italy alone, of which an estimated of 20,000 undocumented migrant workers are left without or minimal assistance from our own government. They were even left out of any assistance from the Cure Italy decree of the Italian government, of which only documented and regular workers can avail.
We migrants and immigrants share the commonality on the root cause of migration. We recognize our right to migrate for a humane future, for us and our family and this is our fundamental rights. What we are experiencing now is beyond our rights. Migration now becomes a force choice for us to conserve our human dignity as a person. We flee and migrate for there is war of aggression in our country. We flee and migrate from having an environmentally torn country caused by multinational mining and exploitation. We flee and migrate from a despotic and tyrannical rule.
Like you, Filipinos are forced to leave and seek for a better future, but these choice is more driven by the systematic policies of our own government. Ever since, our government knew that it can profit not only from the raw materials that it exports but also from the remittance of Filipino migrants, it then brought into policy the continuous bargain of Filipino workforce abroad.
Labor export policy as we call it, have made Filipinos a mere product, a simple commodity on which to exchange and profit from. In 2019 alone, our government had profited an enormous 29 billion dollars from our remittances. More than 10 percent of the total 105 billion population of Filipinos are dispersed globally. Before the pandemic, 7,000 Filipinos leave our country everyday to work abroad. This situation is strengthen by the implementation of neo-liberal laws and policies dictated by imperialist countries to our own government, thus leading to local mass unemployment, inequity, social injustice and poverty. Yet, they neglect their duties on their service to the Filipino migrants.
Thus, we join your call for the immediate unconditional regularization of undocumented migrants/immigrants and displaced people. The pandemic of Covid-19 must not be only a pretext for a humane treatment of all irregular and undocumented migrants. Human rights must be the base of any regularization. We could talk of a vaccine from the disease in six months to a year from now, but if the migrants remain irregular and without access to a proper health care, it is useless.
We share your sufferings and we unite with you in pursuing the rights of other “invisible” people that also taking part for the economic building and development of any host country. We further call for decriminalization of irregular and undocumented workers and stop the neoliberal policies dictated by the imperialist countries.
“Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples”
“Universal right to health and public health for all and not private profit!”
“Stop Criminalizing Migrants and Stop Deportation!”
“End Neoliberal Policies in Third World Countries! Stop Imperialist Domination!”
Messaggio di solidarietà sullo sciopero generale dei braccianti (Italia) – 21 maggio 2020
Un saluto di solidarietà a tutti, amici e compagni migranti! Noi di Migrante Europe, un’alleanza dell’organizzazione dei migranti filippini in Europa, aderiamo con forza all’appello dei braccianti per una regolarizzazione incondizionata. Elogiamo la vostra iniziativa militante per questo sciopero generale e per aver portato le voci dei migranti “invisibili”, degli immigrati e degli sfollati in prima linea nella prossima legge di regolarizzazione in Italia.
Come altre persone “invisibili”, i migranti filippini senza documenti e gli immigrati di tutta Europa soffrono rigorosamente del caos di questa pandemia. Solo in Italia, di cui si stima che circa 20.000 lavoratori immigrati senza documenti siano rimasti senza o con un’assistenza minima da parte del nostro Governo. Siamo addirittura esclusi dall’assistenza del decreto Cura Italia del Governo italiano, di cui possono usufruire solo i lavoratori regolari e documentati.
Noi migranti e immigrati condividiamo con voi la causa principale della migrazione. Riconosciamo il nostro diritto a migrare per un futuro umano, per noi e per la nostra famiglia e questo è il nostro diritto fondamentale. Quello che stiamo vivendo ora va oltre i nostri diritti. La migrazione diventa per noi una scelta di forza per conservare la nostra dignità umana come persona. Fuggiamo e migriamo perché nel nostro Paese c’è una guerra di aggressione. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un paese ambientalmente lacerato a causa dell’estrazione mineraria e dello sfruttamento multinazionale. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un Governo dispotico e tirannico.
Come voi, i filippini sono costretti ad andarsene e a cercare un futuro migliore, ma queste scelte sono maggiormente guidate dalle politiche sistematiche del nostro stesso Governo. Da allora, il nostro Governo sapeva di poter trarre profitto non solo dalle materie prime che esporta, ma anche dalle rimesse dei migranti filippini, ha poi portato in politica il continuo affare della forza lavoro filippina all’estero.
La politica di esportazione del lavoro ha fatto dei filippini un semplice prodotto, una semplice merce di scambio e di profitto. Solo nel 2019, il nostro Governo ha beneficiato di 29 miliardi di dollari americani delle nostre rimesse. Più del 10% dei 105 milioni della popolazione totale filippina è dispersa a livello globale. Prima della pandemia, 7.000 filippini lasciano ogni giorno il nostro Paese per lavorare all’estero. Questa situazione è rafforzata dall’applicazione di leggi e politiche neoliberali dettate dai paesi imperialisti al nostro Governo, portando così alla disoccupazione di massa locale, all’iniquità, all’ingiustizia sociale e alla povertà. Eppure, essi trascurano i loro doveri al servizio dei migranti filippini.
Quindi ci uniamo alla vostra richiesta di una regolarizzazione immediata e incondizionata dei migranti/ immigrati senza documenti e degli sfollati. La pandemia di Covid-19 non deve essere solo un pretesto per un trattamento umano di tutti i migranti irregolari e senza documenti. I diritti umani devono essere alla base di ogni regolarizzazione. Potremmo parlare di un vaccino contro la malattia tra sei mesi e un anno, ma se i migranti rimangono irregolari e non hanno accesso a un’assistenza sanitaria adeguata, è inutile.
Condividiamo le vostre sofferenze e ci uniamo a voi nel perseguire i diritti di altre persone “invisibili” che partecipano anche per la costruzione e lo sviluppo economico di qualsiasi paese ospitante. Chiediamo inoltre la depenalizzazione dei lavoratori irregolari e senza permesso di soggiorno e la cessazione delle politiche neoliberali dettate dai Paesi imperialisti.
“Regolarizzazione e pieni diritti di cittadinanza per tutti i lavoratori migranti, rifugiati e sfollati”
“Diritto universale alla salute e alla sanità pubblica per tutti e non al profitto privato!”
“Stop alla criminalizzazione dei migranti e stop all’espulsione!”
“Porre fine alle politiche neoliberali nei Paesi del Terzo Mondo! Stop alla dominazione imperialista!”
The Duterte Government failed to address holistically the COVID-19 pandemic! From the very start, he played a clown to address the crisis—telling the Filipino people that the government has enough money to address the crisis, and can face the crisis. And months into this lockdown, he is now telling the Filipino people that the government has no more money.
The Duterte Government employed military solution, instead of the medical approach to the crisis. Thus, our consistent call for the crisis resounds—Solusyong Medikal, Hindi Solusyong Militar! Adding to the record of human rights violations they are inflicting on the communities and the poor; and even emboldening themselves as the powerful implementor of the COVID government response. Likewise, we are adding our call to re-channel the ₱379 billion approved budget of both the AFP and PNP (2020 General Appropriations Act) to COVID-19 pro-people response.
The Duterte Government used Congress to approve a corrupt-ridden economic band-aid to the health crisis, the so-called ‘government response package’ worth ₱1.49 trillion. Intending to initially spend the amount of ₱648.521 billion to address the crisis, and more than half of the amount funded from loans; the government already released the amount of ₱350 billion. Ironically, in the midst of the pandemic, the approval of the US-Duterte arms deal worth ₱75 billion. Adding in the budget line-up: military, tourism, infrastructure, among others—marked by a capitalist greed! Aware that all these figures will be a burden to us Filipinos. Thus, our call is to consistently insist and pursue the root cause of our economic crisis, not this pro-business, pro-profit and graft-tainted solution!
The Duterte Government shows its vindictive attitude on the critical media agencies; currently, it successfully shutdown the ABS-CBN media network; a glaring sacrilege to press freedom; aware of the role of media in information dissemination on issues and updates on national issues and of the current COVID crisis.
The Duterte Government employs a business approach of imposing the mandatory increase of PhilHealth premium of OFWs (Overseas Foreign Workers); we echo the common sentiment of the working Filipinos abroad to scrap the PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0014 as we call for Public Health Not Profit!
The Duterte Government continues to employ the barbarity of the state forces to address the pandemic; manifested by the killings of ordinary citizens and activists during the crisis, continued harassment on far-flung communities; the unfounded accusations of NPA attacks, the red-tagging on legal pro-people organizations and leaders (like Fr. Raymond Ambray of Surigao); and the criminal pricing of rebel leaders.
The Duterte Government is displaying its military force in every corner of our islands; from guarding of the towns and cities to the distribution of cash aid; up to the pursuit of activists and identified organized communities, implementing violence tainted military-adventurism even during the crisis.
All these are utter disgust to the Filipino People, Rodrigo Duterte manifests the vulture-face of this crisis, taking advantage politically of our vulnerabilities.
The Duterte Government is not Protecting the Filipinos and is not Protecting our Human Rights. Resist Duterte’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic! Oust Duterte!#
Angered by President Duterte’s mere suspension of the mandatory Philhealth membership and premium rate hike, Filipino migrants from all over the world staged an online global protest on Tuesday, 12 May, to demand the elimination of what they call “unjust” and “extortionate” state exactions. Migrante International members from North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific likewise related the plight of OFWs and Filipino migrants hard hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and recession.
Migrante International Chairperson Joanna Concepcion slammed the Duterte administration’s “new scheme of legalized extortion” imposed on migrant workers. “We will not allow migrants to be robbed anew of their hard-earned salaries just to fund large-scale corruption in Philhealth. We will not forget the fake [ghost] patients, fake receipts, and the billions of funds lost to corruption,” Concepcion stated. She further argued that the pandemic has exposed the failure of neoliberal policies in addressing the enormous problems faced by the country’s healthcare system.
Marlon Gatdula of Migrante KSA reminded the Duterte administration that Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia already have existing health insurance provided to them by employers. Gatdula pointed out that when it comes to providing relief, Philippine government officials are not exerting concrete actions to aid OFWs who are under No-Work, No-Pay arrangements.
Europe being one of the most severely affected continents by the pandemic, Marlon Lacsamana of Migrante Europe raised its objection to the Duterte administration’s intent to overburden OFWs. “If the government is able to fund militarization in communities and in the countryside, that money should be taken back and be used for public health services for the people. The government is spending billions on debt servicing for owed money which has not contributed anything for the people’s welfare. That money should likewise be retrieved and be allocated to provide free services for Filipinos.” Lacsamana added that they are not just calling for the total scrapping of the mandatory Philhealth but for Duterte’s ouster.
Amidst the pandemic, many migrants are not only being afflicted by the Duterte government’s extortionist policies. Nap Pempeña of Migrante USA decried government negligence towards J1 visa holders victimized by recruitment agencies. He said that these young interns were promised professional training but actually ended up as replacements for the domestic workforce. Due to the closure of hotel and resort operations, thousands of young interns were laid off and are now without any income to support their basic needs. This is on top of the huge amounts of debt they incurred from the exorbitant fees charged by recruitment agencies. Pempeña deplored DFA’s failure to utilize the Php 1 Billion Assistance to Nationals fund to aid distressed J1 visa holders.
On 22 April 2020, PhilHealth Circular No. 2020-0014 entitled “Premium Contribution and Collection of Payment of Overseas Filipino Member” was officially made public. This is in fulfillment of President Duterte’s Universal Healthcare Law which was signed on 20 February 2019 which sets mandatory coverage to all Filipinos under the country’s National Health Insurance Program. At this time, an online petition initiated by OFWs opposing Philhealth’s mandatory collection has already garnered 237,780 signatures and is poised to muster more support in the coming days.
Here are just some of the reasons why OFWs and many Filipino migrants have expressed strong disapproval:
The mandatory 3% is only the first phase of a tiered payment computation which is set to increase year by year reaching 5% in 2024. This is in addition to all the other enervating state exactions imposed by the Philippine government.
Citing Hongkong as an example where OFWs have a minimum salary of HK$ 4630 (Php 30,095), the total contribution for 2020 would amount to HK$ 1,667 which is equivalent to Php 10,835.50 (Php30,095 x 0.03 x 12 months). By 2024 and onwards, upon implementation of the 5% increase on the monthly contribution, this would spike up to HK$2,778 or Php 18,057 yearly.
This increase overburdens OFWs who are already troubled by retrenchments and loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. An overwhelming number of OFWs are not even covered by President Duterte’s DOLE-AKAP cash aid program and repatriated OFWs have been crying out on the government for steady and efficient amelioration.
OFWs are already covered by existing insurance and healthcare programs in their host countries which renders Duterte’s mandatory Philhealth coverage as useless for Filipino migrants abroad. Why charge them yet again?
Since regular contribution to Philhealth is part of OEC requirements, no OEC will be issued to OFWs who are unable to complete their Philhealth payments. Duterte broke his campaign promise of removing the OEC requirement.
Members who fail to make payment after the due date will be required to pay all missed contributions with monthly compounded interest.
Corruption in Philhealth: President Duterte himself has claimed last year that a whopping Php 154 Billion has been lost to Philhealth’s ghost patients and deliveries funneled mainly to profit-oriented private healthcare facilities. Why are OFWs and Filipino migrants being forced to shoulder government losses caused by corruption?
Subsidizing private profit: While underfunded public healthcare and medical facilities are fast deteriorating, mandatory Philhealth collections are bound to benefit profit-oriented private healthcare facilities as public hospitals are engulfed by the government’s privatization program.
Our Demands:
Stop the mandatory Philhealth premium exaction.
Enforce a moratorium on all state exactions at this period of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession.
Remove punitive penalties.
Junk OEC.
Establish a genuine universal health care program through free medical and health services.
Enhance and strengthen the public health care system in the Philippines.
Instead of building more pro-people infrastructures for public health services and establishing a genuine universal health care program where medical and health services are free, President Duterte is clinging on to neoliberal economic policies that extort money from the public to fill the coffers of big private entities. This in itself is legalized theft that preys on our already overburdened Filipino migrants. Our opposition to this unjust state exaction, will not merely be a writing on a piece of paper. Migrante International encourages everyone to join our kalampagan and other forms of online protests to oppose the Duterte government’s mandatory Philhealth exaction.
We, Filipino migrants, affixed our organizations name herewith, to signify our support to the content and demands written on this position paper and to express our strong and collective opposition to the mandatory collection of Philhealth contributions.
Signed:
Migrante International
Migrante Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Gabriela Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Migrante Qatar
Gabriela United Arab Emirates
Migrante Seattle, USA
Migrante Portland, USA
Migrante Napa-Solano, USA
Migrante Daly City, USA
PAWIS East Bay, USA
PAWIS San Jose, USA
Migrante Los Angeles, USA
Migrante Long Beach, USA
Migrante Orange County, USA
Migrante New York, USA
Migrante New Jersey, USA
Migrante Youth New York, USA
Migrante Chicago, USA
Migrante Washington D.C., USA
Migrante Manitoba, Canada
Migrante BC, Canada,
Migrante Alberta, Canada
Migrante Ontario, Canada
Migrante Ottawa, Canada
Alberta Care Workers Association, Canada
Kabisig Society of Fort Saskatchewan
Philippine Migrant Society of Canada (PMSC)
PINAY, Canada
Association of Filipino Parents, Quebec, Canada
Filipino Indigenous Association of Quebec, Canada
Aklanon Association
Anakbayan Europe
Campaign for the Human Rights in the Philippines, United Kingdom
Europe Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines
Federation of Domestic Workers Association (FDWA), UK
Filipino Ecumenical Migrants Ministry – IFI,
FOA-Au Pair, Denmark
Gabriela Germany
Gabriela London
Gabriela Roma
Gabriela Switzerland
Kabalikat Netherlands
Kanulungan Filipino Consortium, UK
Makabayang Samahang Pilipino (MkSP), Netherlands
Migrante Austria
Migrante Bologna, Italy
Migrante Como, Italy
Migrante Denmark
Migrante Europe
Migrante Firenze, Italy
Migrante Iceland
Migrante Ireland
Migrante Mantova
Migrante Milano
Migrante Netherlands Amsterdam
Migrante Netherlands Den Haag
Migrante Utrecht
Migrante UK
Migrante Zurich
Milan OFW Kapitbisig
Nagkakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya
Pinay sa Holland – Gabriela
Promotion of Church People’s Repsonse Europe
Samahan ng mga Kabataan sa Netherlands (SAMAKA-NL)
Sentro Pilipino Chaplaincy (SPC)
Ugnayang Pilipino sa Belgium (UPB)
Umangat Migrante
The Right Reverend Antonio N. Ablon, Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Fr. Aris Miranda, Camillan Task Force
AOTEAROA – NEW ZEALAND
MIGRANTE Aotearoa New Zealand
MIGRANTE Aotearoa – Palmerston North
MIGRANTE Aotearoa – Christchurch
PINAY Aotearoa – New Zealand
Migrante Builders Aotearoa
Union Network of Migrants (UNEMIG), AUSTRALIA
MIGRANTE Australia
Lingap Migrante – Western Sydney Australia
Migrante North Hornsby, Sydney Australia
Migrante South West – Sydney
Philippines Australia Women’s Association
Migrante Kultura
Migrante Melbourne
Migrante Melbourne East
Migrante Melbourne North – Samahang Tatak Pinoy
Migrante Melbourne Northeast
Migrante Melbourne West
Migrante Perth, Australia
Advance League of People’s Artists (ALPA), Australia
AnakBayan Sydney
AnakBayan Melbourne
BAYAN Australia
Gabriela Australia
Gabriela Greater Sydney
Gabriela Victoria
Gabriela Perth
Philippines Studies Network in Australia (PINAS)
Promotion for Church People’s Response (PCPR) Australia
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK)
Abra Migrant Workers Welfare Association
Association of Concerned Filipinos
Cuyapo OFW Association Hong Kong
Filipino Friends
Filipino Lesbian Organization
Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers Union
Filipino Migrants Association
Filipino Women Migrant Association
Friends of Bethune House
Likha Filipino Migrants Cultural Organization
Luzviminda Migrante
Migrante Naguilian
Migrante Pier
Migrante Shatin
Migrante Tamar
Migrante Tsing Ti
Migrante Tsuen Wan
Migrante Yuen Long
Migranteng Artista ng Bayan
Organic Cultural and Environmental Organization
Philippine Independent Church Choir
Pinatud A Saleng Ti Umili (PSU)
Pangasinan Organization for Welfare, Empowerment and Rights
Samahang Migrante
Sta Maria Migrants Association
Women of Philippine Independent Church – WOPIC Antique
Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU)
FMWU City Hall Chapter
FMWU Chater Garden Chapter
FMWU Chater Road Chapter
Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society
Annak ti Maeng Tubo-HK
Baggak Cultural Group
Bangued Migrants Workers Association
Bucay Migrants Workers
Bucloc Overseas Workers Association
Ganagan San Juan Association
Lacub Migrants
Lagangilang Overseas Association
Langiden Migrants Organization
Lapaz Migrants Association
Licuan-Baay HK Association
Maeng Tribe of Abra Luba-HK
Malibcong Migrants Association
Timpuyog Ti Tayum
BAYAN Hong Kong & Macau
Cordillera Alliance Hong Kong (CORALL)
GABRIELA Hong Kong
Gabriela Hong Kong Bank
Filguys Association
Filipino Lesbians Organization (FILO)
Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR) – Hong Kong
KAFIN Saitama – Migrante
MIGRANTE Japan
MIGRANTE Macau
KASAMMAKO – Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggawa sa Korea
New Era Foundation
Pag-Iribang Bicolnon in Korea
TERESA
Osan Migrants Centre
MIGRANTE Taiwan
ACTION – Association of Concerned Filipinos in Thailand
Our warmest greetings of solidarity to all the working masses and people jointly participating in our 117th International Day of Labor. Celebrating the cause of our yearly commemoration in a moment of a global pandemic, is a prime occasion to advance the cause of our working masses in a period of many militarist lockdowns by many countries doubly damaging both political and economic situations affecting our people — majority of them are the working class.
Our united organizations: Anakbayan Europa, Migrante Europe, Europe Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP)-Europe have been conducting thematic weekly ‘noise barrage’ campaigns here in Europe in support and in solidarity of the countries deeply affected by the COVID crisis, and where many of our compatriots are working and living; our activities lead to this May 1st celebration of the International Day of Labor. In solidarity, with our Filipino people and the working masses, our theme for this global celebration is outlined in many of our consistent slogans: Ayuda Hindi Diktadura! Solusyong Medikal Hindi Aksyong Militar! Peace Talks Now! No to Martial Law! — Oust Duterte! These calls are clear reminders to the oppressive Duterte Government to address integrally the COVID-19 crisis affecting the working Filipinos.
Our collective solidarity call for this day of the workers and the toiling masses is End the de facto Martial Law in the Philippines! The current repressive regime of Duterte instituted the Executive Order No. 70, meant to violently attack the toiling masses and of continuing the militarist anti-communism violent hysteria; added by a revised Human Security Act suppressing political dissent, enhancing intelligence work like surveillance; harassing, arresting without judicial warrant; illegal detentions by military force — all targeting our leaders from different sectors, activists and even ordinary farm workers. Sadly, many of our leaders, organizers and members of sectoral organizations were murdered by state forces from the dictatorial order of Duterte.
During this COVID-19 crisis, instead of providing adequate solutions affecting the Filipinos, Duterte arrogantly continued to offer the alibi of declaring Martial Law, blaming the New People’s Army (NPA) who are doing relief work for those affected by the crisis in the hinterlands (and had earlier already declared ceasefire) of attacks on the government forces; and clearly ordering the hunt of legal nationalist organizations with this stern warning from Duterte himself: “lahat kayong mga legal fronts magtago na kayo. Magtago na kayo. Huwag ninyo akong bolahin…” (All of you who are members of the legal front organizations can already start hiding. Hide yourselves. Do not play with me… – Speech of Duterte last April 23, 2020) This warning is meant to suppress, and scare us from our collective call, but we are not afraid, we resist this dictatorship! We shout: End the de facto Martial Law in the Philippines! Oust Duterte!
A day before May 1, 2020 the state forces murdered Jory Porquia – an anti-Marcos activist during the Martial Law years, a leader of the League of Filipino Students (LFS) in the 80’s, and Bayan Muna Iloilo coordinator – just a week after the televised warning of the President of the Philippines on activists and organizations critical of his administration. We condemn this bastardly act on our fellow activist and labor organizer, End the Killings! We render our comradely appreciation of Jory Porquia’s dedication to the toiling and working masses in Iloilo, and the whole of Panay. We solicit for a united call of Justice for Jory! as we celebrate the International Day of Labor. ###
Migrante-Europe condemns in the strongest terms the declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte ordering members of the police and military forces to shoot and kill people protesting the non-delivery of food aid during enhanced community quarantine following the arrest and detention of several people from Barangay Bagong Pag-asa in Quezon City on 1 April 2020.
Residents of Bagong Pag-asa went to the office of a local government unit only to ask food aid as promised by the government during the community lockdown amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. But instead of being compassionate in addressing the needs of the people who suffering hunger, the brutal arm of the state was unleashed. The president’s order is also being carried out in the Cordillera region as its police director directed the police to shoot “communist organizers”.
The continuing failure of the fascist Duterte regime to help the people adversely affected by the community quarantine, has caused several families to seek food outside their homes, to let the night pass without food, unsure what will be in on their table the next day.
The government’s callousness to the suffering and hunger of the people has no place in the fight against the Covid19 pandemic. The government should provide effective steps for the immediate and efficient delivery of services to the people that havebeen deprived to them for several weeks already.
We call on the members and officers of the police and the military forces to have a deeper understanding on the current situation of the poorest of our people.
Hungry people are, justifiably asking for food not bullets. They deserve delivery of the promised food aid not shoot to kill order.
We call on compatriots around the world to join Migrante-Europe in a weekly simultaneous noise barrage starting Saturday, 4 April 2020, 6PM Philippine time, to call on the Philippine government to focus on the immediate and efficient delivery of social services to the people instead of imposing more draconian measures and scapegoating peoples’ organizations and compassionate individuals and entities for its own scandalous failure to act as a government for the people.#
Sa huling talumpati ni pangulong Duterte kaugnay ng COVID-19, nangingibabaw sa kanyang mensahe ang paulit-ulit na “pagsunod sa kanyang utos o direktiba”, na ang pangunahing magtitiyak ng pagpapatupad ng ordinansang ito ay ang mga kapulisan at militar. Kasama na rito ang manaka-nakang pagbanggit ng kulungan bilang pagsuway sa ordinansang ito.
Ang quarantine o LOCKDOWN at ang pagbubuo ng mga kaukulang strukturang organisasyunal ay karaniwan nang ginagawa ng maraming mga bansa bilang isa sa mga estremong prebensyon para sa paglawak pa ng sakit. Subalit, kaiba naman sa ibang bansa, ang kasama ng mga aksyong ito ay may mga kaakibat pang aksyon tulad ng suportang pang-ekonomiya.
Bago pa ang deklarasyon ng Code Red sa Pilipinas, naideklara na ng World Health Organization na ang paglaganap ng COVID-19 ay isa ng pandemiya. Sa madaling salita, ang virus na COVID-19 ay malaganap na ang saklaw sa buong mundo kung saan may mga karampatang hakbangin o protocol na dapat ipatupad ang bawat bansa. Bago pa man nito, maraming mga karanasan na pwedeng paghanguan ng aral sa iba’t ibang bansang naunang naapektuhan ng pandemiya.
Saksi sa mga karanasang ito ang mahigit sampung milyong Pilipinong nasa labas ng bansa. Naranasan ng ating mga kababayan sa China, Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Italy at iba pang mga bansa kung ano ang kundisyon ng mga limitadong galaw (limited mobility) , quarantine at total lockdown ng isang lugar. Nasaksihan natin kung paano lumobo ang presyo ng isang simpleng hand disinfectant at surgical mask hanggang sa tuluyan itong mawala sa mga pamilihan. Naging saksi tayo sa kung ano ang hitsura ng panic buying sa simula ng di maayos na mga anunsyo ng direktiba kaalinsabay ng mga dis-impormasyon at fake news.
Ininda din ng marami nating kababayan ang kalagayang walang sahod dahil walang pasok sa trabaho. Hindi na natin palalawigin pa kung ano ang epekto nito sa kanilang mga kamag-anakan sa Pilipinas at mga bayaring hinaharap nila sa bansang tinitigilan. Subali’t may aral na maaaring makuha sa kung paano hinarap ng mga bansang naunang tinamaan ng epidemiya ang sitwasyon.
Sa Italya, nagdesisyon ang gobyerno ng quarantine ng ilang probinsya sa pag kategorya sa kanila bilang Red Zone, na sa kalauna’y idineklara ang buong bansa bilang Protected Zone na kasing kahulugan din ng Red Zone subali’t sa positibong aspeto at ang buong Italya ay inilagay sa quarantine o lockdown hanggang ika-3 ng Abril. Nangangahulugan ng pagsasara ng mga eskwelahan sa lahat ng antas, pagsasara ng mga negosyo at pagawaan na hindi esenyal sa produksyon at limitadong paglabas pasok sa bansa. Ang mga tao ay maaari lamang lumabas ng bahay sa tatlong mahigpit na kadahilanan- trabaho, pagbili ng pagkain, at iba pang emergency o mahigpit na pangangailangan.
Ano ang lohika ng quarantine o lockdown sa bansang Italya? Inamin mismo ng gobyerno ang peligro ng pagbagsak ng kanyang sistema at istrukturang pangkalusugan. Sa esensya hindi nito kakayanin ang paglobo ng mga maysakit dahil sa kanyang kakulangan sa doktor, nurses, mga mangagawang medikal at ng limitadong struktura nito.
Sa pagbibigay halimbawa sa kasalukuyan, ang sinumang maaaring mangailangan ng kagyat na operasyon sa anumang kadahilanan labas pa sa COVID-19 ay nanganganib na hindi maoperahan dahil sa okupado ng mga pasyenteng apektado ng virus ang mga Intensive Care Units, doktor at iba pang manggagawang medikal sa mga ospital. Liban pa sa mahina ito sa tunay na kalagayan dulot ng pribatisasyon.
Subali’t hindi dito natatapos ang direktiba. Ang mabilis na pagkalat ng virus ay mabilis ding nagpahina at ibayong nagpabagal sa produksyong kapitalista sa kabuuan, di lamang sa Italya kundi sa lahat ng mga bansang kapitalista. Kung kaya’t kabilang sa direktibang inilabas ang mga pang-ekonomiyang aksyon tulad halimbawa ng pagsuspinde ng ilang mga bayarin tulad ng utang, mortgages sa bahay, kuryente at gas ; pagbawal sa pagkatanggal sa trabaho dulot ng COVID-19; pagpapagana ng holiday leave na may bayad at iba pang suportang pang-ekonomiya sa mamamayan nito at mga maliliit na negosyo at impresa.
Sa esensya, ang mensahe ni pangulong Duterte ay awtokratikong utos at pagsunod sa utos, na may kaparusahang pagkakulong sa sinumang lumabag dito. Bagama’t itinatanggi ang batas militar, hindi nawawala ang pana-panahong pagbanggit sa papel ng kapangyarihan ng militar at pulis. Walang pagbanggit o pag-amin sa tunay na katayuan ng ating sistema at strukturang pangkalusugan sa kakayanan nitong masawata ang pagkalat at kahandaan nito sa paggamot sa mga may sakit.
Bakit hindi binanggit ang katayuan ng ating sistemang pangkalusugan? Dahil ang katotohanan ay makikita natin sa mga naging aksyon ng rehimeng ito sa nagdaang mag-aapat na taon ng kanyang panunungkulan. Samantalang patuloy na pinalalaki ang pondo ng militar, patuloy namang binabawasan ang mga pondong may kaugnayan sa serbisyo sosyal tulad ng sa kalusugan . Mula Php 263 milyon nuong 2019 ay binawasan ng kalahati ang budyet para sa taong 2020 na umabot na lang sa Php 115.5 milyon.
Sino ba sa palagay natin ang mga mamamayang pangunahing bulnerabile sa sakit ng COVID-19? Sa pagbagsak ng sistema at struktura ng pampublikong kalusugan dahil sa pagdami ng mga pasyenteng gagamutin, ang ating mga kababayan na mahihirap (na sa kasamaang palad ay ang mayorya sa ating mamamayan) ang pangunahing biktima. Sila ang mga hindi makakatiyak ng pagpapagamot sa mga pribadong ospital. Wala silang katiyakan kahit paman sila’y mga kamag-anakan ng mga ofw sa labas ng bansa, dahil alalahanin natin na ang virus ay kalat sa buong mundo. Tuwiran o di tuwiran, ang pagpapadala ng tulong at rekurso ng kanilang mga kamag-anakan ay apektado.
Ang mga mayorya na mahihirap na mamamayang ito ang hinagupit at pinahina ng kung ilang ulit na mga batas at patakarang ipinasa ng gobyerno ni Duterte tulad ng TRAIN LAW, RICE TARRIFICATION ACT, patuloy na sistemang kontraktwalisasyon, at iba pang mga anti-mamamayang batas. Habang pilit na pinalusot ang pork barrel at binawasan ang pondo para sa publiko patuloy naman ang pag-utang para sa mga proyektong walang tuwirang kinalaman sa produksyon tulad ng Build, build build.
Ang mga nakasaad sa direktiba ni pangulong Duterte ay magsisilbing inutil at hahantong lamang sa paglala ng sitwasyon kung hindi hihikayatin ang buong mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng mga kongkretong ayuda na tutugon sa haba ng paglimita sa mobilidad ng tao sa bansa. Ang kooperasyon ng bawat isa ay hindi inuutos o nakukuha sa dahas kundi ito’y boluntaryong nakakakamit batay sa materyal na kundisyon. Hindi natin maaring sabihin sa kapwa natin na huwag lumabas ng bahay sa isang takdang panahon kung sa haba ng panahon na iyon ay hindi n’ya matutugunan ang kanyang pangangailangang mabuhay.
Karagdagan sa dapat tiyakin ng gobyerno ni Duterte ang tulong at serbisyo sa ating mga ofw na nasa mga bansang apektado ng pandemiya. Hindi sapat ang pagpigil sa pagpapaalis o pagsasara ng mga paliparan. Ang kailangan ay isang bilateral na kasunduang magtitiyak sa trabahong mababalikan sa kanilang mga bansang pansamantalang iniwanan. Ito ang silbi ng ating mga konsulato at embahada sa labas ng bansa. Ang pagtitiyak sa katayuan sa hanapbuhay ng ating mga manggagawa, kabilang na ang kaligtasan.
Ang pandemiyang COVID-19 ay isa ring aral sa atin na ang lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay magkakaugnay. Hindi natin maaring sabihin na hindi dapat makialam sa pulitika, dahil ang pulitika ang magtatakda ng iyong ekonomiya at kultura. Hindi natin pwedeng balewalain ang bulnerabileng bahagi ng ating mamamayan dahil ang patuloy na pagkalat ng sakit ay nakabatay din sa kanila. Hindi natin maaring sabihin na ang magiging biktima lang naman ng sakit ay mga may edad na. Hindi tayo Diyos para mamili kung sino ang dapat mamamatay at mabuhay , tulad narin sa nagaganap na mga extra judicial killings. At lalong hindi katanggap-tanggap na sabihing “mahirap ka, bahala kang mamatay sa hirap”.
Sapat na Ayudang Pang-ekonomiya, Hindi Militarized Lockdown! Karagdagang Budyet sa Kalusugan at Tamang Apropriasyon sa Serbisyo Sosyal ! Itigil ang Anumang Uri ng Pribatisasyon sa Serbisyong Pampubliko! Libreng Medikal, Hindi Militar! Gamot, Hindi Lockdown! Ospital, Hindi Selda!
Migrante-Europe is united in resisting and condemning the systematic criminalization of extending help in solidarity to the fleeing migrants and refugees in Europe. We are highly distraught that at least 158 individuals and their organizations across Europe are being criminalized for offering help, including food and shelter, to migrants and refugees.1
Pierre-Alain Mannoni
Among these is Pierre-Alain Mannoni of France, who risks five years of imprisonment for transporting three young Eritrean migrants who were injured after ten hours of walking during winter from the Roya Valley to his home in Nice.
Rescue workers Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder
Sea rescue workers Sarah Mardini and Seán Binder were put in prison for more than 100 days in Greece and may still face prison sentence of up to 25 years on charges of spying, people smuggling and belonging to a criminal organization.
We are flabbergasted that these individuals and their organization who are trying to help the most vulnerable migrants and refugees to escape certain death in the Mediterranean Sea are prohibited in extending a helping hand, while there are at least 1,680 migrants and refugees have died in that sea since 2014.2
Migrante-Europe, composed of various Filipino organizations in many parts of Europe is alarmed by these state actions of treating as criminal acts that work of helping the vulnerable. These situation being experienced by those who offered their time, talents and treasures to help the migrants and refugees in Europe are very familiar to the attacks of the Philippine government on activists and rights defenders.
Now that our rights defenders in Europe are being attacked, Migrante-Europe cannot sit idly and remain quiet. The injustice that has beset this continent does not only affect the fleeing migrants and refugees. As recipients of the noble work of these human rights defenders, we cannot allow this mockery of justice to continue because we cannot claim to know and have knowledge of European values and yet keep our eyes shut to the humiliations that our human rights defenders encounter everyday.
Our European human rights advocates, who are only upholding the exemplary European values of human rights and human life, are systematically being criminalized. As an alliance working for Filipino migrants, immigrants and exiles, we stand with them and urge our host countries to stop this travesty of justice. We must always remember the nobility of solidarity and how it is use to serve those who have less, those who have nothing, those who have to suffer every ounce of injustice and indignity, day in and day out.
Long live international solidarity!
Reference: Marlon Toledo Lacsamana Secretary General [email protected]
Weersta de criminalisering van solidariteit in Europa
Migrante-Europe is verenigd en veroordeelt de systematische criminalisering van solidariteitswerk binnen Europa. We zijn radeloos van verdriet dat ten minste 158 personen en hun organisaties in heel Europa worden gecriminaliseerd voor het aanbieden van hulp, inclusief voedsel en onderdak, aan migranten en vluchtelingen. 3
Onder hen is Pierre-Alain Mannoni uit Frankrijk, die vijf jaar gevangenisstraf riskeert voor het vervoeren van drie jonge Eritrese migranten, die gewond raakten na tien uur wandelen in de winter van de Roya-vallei, naar zijn huis in Nice.
Reddingswerkers Sarah Mardini en Seán Binder werden meer dan 100 dagen in Griekenland gevangengezet en kunnen nog steeds tot 25 jaar gevangenisstraf krijgen op beschuldiging van spionage, mensensmokkel en lid zijn van een criminele organisatie. We zijn verbijsterd dat deze individuen en hun organisatie die proberen de meest kwetsbare migranten en vluchtelingen te helpen verboden worden hen een helpende hand te bieden. Dit terwijl er minstens 1.680 migranten en vluchtelingen zijn gestorven in die Miiddellandse Zee sinds 2014. 2
Wij Filipino’s zijn helaas zeer bekend met aanvallen op activisten en verdedigers van rechten, omdat dit ook in de Filippijnen veel voorkomt. Nu onze verdedigers in Europa worden aangevallen, kunnen we niet stilzitten en stil blijven. Het onrecht dat Europa heeft getroffen, beïnvloedt ons niet alleen. Dit omdat we getuige zijn van de vernederingen waarmee onze Europese verdedigers worden geconfronteerd (onrecht, misbruik, geweld en officiële idiotie) kiezen we er niet voor om te zwijgen.
Onze Europese verdedigers die alleen de Europese waarden van mensenrechten en het menselijk leven hooghouden, worden systematisch gecriminaliseerd. Als een alliantie die werkt voor Filipijnse migranten, immigranten en ballingen, staan we hen bij en dringen we er bij onze gastlanden op aan deze travestie van gerechtigheid te stoppen. Laten we ons de betekenis van solidariteit herinneren: om degenen te dienen die minder hebben, die niets hebben en die onrecht en verontwaardiging ondergaan.
Hun strijd! Onze strijd! Internationale solidariteit!
Resista la criminalización de la solidaridad en Europa
Migrante-Europa está unida para resistir y condenar la criminalización sistemática del trabajo solidario en Europa. Estamos muy angustiados porque al menos 158 personas y sus organizaciones en toda Europa están siendo criminalizadas por ofrecer ayuda, incluidos alimentos y alojamiento, a migrantes y refugiados. 4
Entre ellos se encuentra Pierre-Alain Mannoni de Francia, quien corre el riesgo de cinco años de prisión por transportar a tres jóven migrantes Eritreos que resultaron heridos después de diez horas de caminata durante el invierno desde el valle de Roya hasta su hogar en Niza. Las rescatistas marítimas Sarah Mardini y Seán Binder fueron encarceladas durante más de 100 días en Grecia y aún pueden enfrentar una pena de prisión de hasta 25 años por cargos de espionaje, contrabando de personas y pertenencia a una organización criminal. Estamos asombrados de que estas personas y su organización que intentan ayudar a los migrantes y refugiados más vulnerables a escapar de una muerte segura en el mar Mediterráneo tengan prohibido extender una mano amiga, mientras que al menos 1.680 migrantes y refugiados han muerto en ese mar desde 2014. 2
Nosotros los Filipinos estamos muy familiarizados con los ataques contra activistas y defensores de los derechos humanos, porque también esto ocurre en las Filipinas. Ahora que nuestros defensores en Europa están siendo atacados, no podemos quedarnos de brazos cruzados y permanecer callados. La injusticia que ha acosado a este continente no nos afecta solo. Esto porque somos testigos de la humillación que nuestros defensores Europeos han enfrontado (injusticia,abuso,violencia e idiotez oficial).
Nuestros defensores europeos que solo defienden los valores ejemplares europeos de los derechos humanos y la vida humana están siendo criminalizados sistemáticamente. Como una alianza que trabaja para inmigrantes filipinos, los apoyamos e instamos a nuestros países de acogida a detener esta parodia de la justicia. Siempre debemos recordar la nobleza de la solidaridad y cómo se utiliza para servir a los que tienen menos, a los que no tienen nada, a los que tienen que sufrir cada gramo de injusticia e indignidad, día tras día.
¡ El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!
Magkaisa at Labanan ang Kriminalisasyon ng Pakiki-isa sa Europa
Ang Migrante-Europe ay nagkakaisa sa paglaban at pagkondena sa sistematikong kriminalisasyon ng gawaing pakiki-isa sa loob ng Europa. Lubos kaming nababahala na hindi bababa sa 158 na mga indibidwal at/o ang kanilang mga organisasyon sa buong Europa ay tinuturing na mga kriminal sa pag-aabot ng tulong, kabilang na ang pag-alay ng mga makakain at kanlungan sa mga migrante at bakwit. 5
Kabilang sa mga ito ay si Pierre-Alain Mannoni ng Pransya, na nanganganib na mabilanggo ng hindi hihigit sa limang taon dahil sa pagtulong nito ng tatlong sugatang migranteng Eritrean matapos ang sampung oras na paglalakad sa panahon ng taglamig mula sa Roya Valley hanggang sa kanyang tahanan sa Nice. Ang mga manggagawang tagapagligtas sa dagat tulad nina Sarah Mardini at Seán Binder na nakulong ng higit sa 100 araw sa Gresya at maaari pa ring maharap sa pagkabilanggo na aabot hanggang sa 25 taon dahil sa mga bintang na pag-espiya, smagling at/o kabilang sa isang kriminal na organisasyon. Kami ay nasusulasok na ang mga indibidwal na ito at/o ang kanilang mga organisasyon na nagsisikap lamang na matulungan ang pinaka-kahabghabag na mga migrante at mga bakwit na tumatakas lamang sa tiyak na kamatayan sa Dagat ng Mediteranyo ay pinagbabawalang tumulong, habang mayroong hindi bababa sa 1,680 na migrante at mga bakwit ay namatay na sa dagat na iyon mula pa noong 2014. 2
Ang Migrante-Europe, na binubuo ng iba’t ibang mga samahang Pilipino sa maraming bahagi ng Europa, ay naalarma sa mga kilos ng mga estadong Europeo na nagtutulak upang gawing krimen ang pagtulong. Ang sitwasyong nararanasan ng mga tumutulong sa karapatang pantao ay pamilyar sa pag-atake ng pamahalaan ng Pilipinas sa mga aktibista at tagapagtanggol ng karapatan. At dahil ngayon nasasaksihan namin ang mga ito sa mga tagapagtanggol ng karapatang pantao ng mga migrante at bakwit sa Europa, hindi na naming kayang umupo at manahimik na lamang. Ang kawalang-katarungan sa anumang porma ay dapat labanan. Bilang isa isa mga komunidad na titutulungan ng mga tagapagtanggol na ito, naninindigan ang Migrante-Europe na ipakita ang aming pakiki-isa sa mga tagapagtanggol ng karapatang pantao na humaharap ngayon sa kawalan ng katarungan, pang-aabuso, karahasan at opisyal na katangahan.
Ang mga tagapagtanggol na ito sa Europa na nagpapakita lamang ng mga huwarang pamantayang para sa karapatang pantao at pagpapakita ng importansya ng buhay ng bawat mamayan sa sandaigdigan. Bilang isang katipunan ng mga organisasyon ng mga Migranteng Filipino sa Europa, nananawagan kami sa mga bansang Europeo na tigilan ang kriminalisasyon ng pakiki-isa. Ibig naming ipaalala sa kanila ang dahilan ng pakiki-isa: maglingkod at tumulong sa mga walang boses; maglingkod at tumulong sa mga walang ni ano; at maglingkod at tumulong duon sa mga taong nakakaranas ng walang katarungan araw-araw.
Migranteng Filipino, Ngayon ay Lumalaban!
Vereinigung und Widerstand gegen die Kriminalisierung der Solidarität in Europa
Migrante-Europe ist sich einig, dass es sich gegen die systematische Kriminalisierung der Solidaritätsarbeit in Europa wehrt und diese verurteilt. Wir sind sehr bestürzt darüber, dass mindestens 158 Personen und ihre Organisationen in ganz Europa kriminalisiert werden, weil sie Migranten und Flüchtlingen Hilfe, einschließlich Nahrung und Unterkunft, anbieten. 6
Unter ihnen ist der Franzose Pierre-Alain Mannoni, der fünf Jahre Haft riskiert, weil er drei junge eritreische Migranten, die nach zehn Stunden Fußmarsch, im Winter, vom Roya-Valley zu seinem Haus in Nizza half. Die Seenotrettungshelfer Sarah Mardini und Seán Binder wurden in Griechenland für mehr als 100 Tage ins Gefängnis gesteckt und können noch immer mit einer Gefängnisstrafe von bis zu 25 Jahren wegen Spionage, Menschenschmuggel und Zugehörigkeit zu einer kriminellen Organisation verurteilt werden. Wir sind erschrocken, dass es diesen Personen und ihrer Organisation, die versuchen, den verwundbarsten Migranten und Flüchtlingen zu helfen, dem sicheren Tod im Mittelmeer zu entgehen, verboten ist, eine helfende Hand auszustrecken, während seit 2014 mindestens 1.680 Migranten und Flüchtlinge in diesem Meer gestorben sind. 2
Wir Filipinos sind leider sehr vertraut mit Angriffen auf Aktivisten und Verteidiger der Menschenrechte, da sie auch an den philippinischen Küsten stattfinden. Jetzt, da unsere Verteidiger in Europa angegriffen werden, können wir nicht untätig bleiben und schweigen. Die Ungerechtigkeit, die diesen Kontinent heimgesucht hat, betrifft nicht nur uns. Als Unterstützer dieser edlen Arbeit können wir nicht zulassen, dass dieser Spott weitergeht, denn wir können nicht behaupten, dass wir die europäischen Werte kennen, und doch die Augen vor den Demütigungen verschließen, denen unsere Verteidiger jeden Tag begegnen: Ungerechtigkeit, Missbrauch, Gewalt und staatlische Idiotie.
Unsere europäischen Verteidiger, die nur die vorbildlichen, europäischen Werte der Menschenrechte und des menschlichen Lebens verteidigen, werden systematisch kriminalisiert. Als ein Bündnis, welches sich für philippinische Migranten, Immigranten und Exilanten einsetzt, stehen wir an ihrer Seite und fordern unsere Gastgeberländer auf, diese Travestie der Gerechtigkeit zu beenden. Wir müssen uns immer an die Vornehmheit der Solidarität erinnern und daran, wie sie genutzt wird, um denen zu dienen, die weniger haben, denen, die nichts haben, denen, die Tag für Tag jedes Quäntchen Ungerechtigkeit und Demütigung erleiden müssen.
Hoch die internationale Solidarität!
Unissez-vous et résistez à la criminalisation de la solidarité en Europe
Migrante-Europe s’unit pour résister et condamner la criminalisation systématique de l’aide solidaire aux migrants et réfugiés fuyant vers l’Europe. Nous sommes profondément affligés qu’au moins 158 personnes et leurs organisations à travers l’Europe soient criminalisées pour avoir offert de l’aide, notamment de la nourriture et un abri, aux migrants et aux réfugiés. 7
Parmi eux, Pierre-Alain Mannoni, de France, qui risque cinq ans de prison pour avoir transporté trois jeunes migrants érythréens blessés après dix heures de marche en hiver de la vallée de la Roya jusqu’à son domicile à Nice. Les sauveteurs Sarah Mardini et Seán Binder sont emprisonnés depuis plus de 100 jours en Grèce et encourent toujours des peines de prison allant jusqu’à 25 ans pour espionnage, traite d’êtres humains et appartenance à une organisation criminelle. Nous sommes étonnés que ces personnes et leurs organisations qui tentent d’aider les migrants et les réfugiés les plus vulnérables à échapper à une mort certaine en Méditerranée ne puissent pas tendre la main, alors qu’au moins 1680 migrants et réfugiés sont morts dans cette mer depuis 2014. 2
Migrante-Europe, composée de diverses organisations philippines dans de nombreuses parties de l’Europe, est alarmée par ces actions de l’État de traiter comme des actes criminels qui visent à aider les personnes vulnérables. Cette situation vécue par ceux qui ont donné de leur temps et de leurs talents pour aider les migrants et les réfugiés en Europe est bien connue des Philippins qui ont été témoins d’attaques du gouvernement philippin contre des militants et des défenseurs des droits. Maintenant que nos défenseurs des droits de l’homme en Europe sont attaqués, Migrante-Europe ne peut plus rester les bras croisés et garder le silence. L’injustice qui a frappé ce continent n’affecte pas seulement les migrants et les réfugiés en fuite. En tant que bénéficiaires du noble travail de ces défenseurs des droits de l’homme, nous ne pouvons pas permettre que cette moquerie de la justice se poursuive parce que nous ne pouvons pas prétendre connaître et connaître les valeurs européennes et pourtant garder les yeux fermés sur les humiliations subies par nos défenseurs des droits de l’homme.
Nos défenseurs européens des droits de l’homme, qui ne font que démontrer les valeurs européennes exemplaires des droits de l’homme et de la vie humaine, sont systématiquement criminalisés. En tant qu’alliance travaillant pour les migrants, les immigrants et les exilés philippins, nous les soutenons et exhortons nos pays d’accueil à mettre fin à cette parodie de justice. Nous devons toujours nous souvenir de la noblesse de la solidarité et de la façon dont elle est utilisée pour servir ceux qui ont moins, ceux qui n’ont rien et ceux qui doivent souffrir chaque once d’injustice chaque jour.
Vive la solidarité!
Uniti Resistiamo Contro la Criminalizzazione della Solidarieta’ In Europa
Migrante Europa è unita nel resistere e nel condannare la criminalizzazione sistematica del lavoro di solidarietà in Europa. Siamo molto preoccupati per il fatto che almeno 158 persone e i loro organizzazioni in tutta Europa vengano criminalizzate per aver offerto aiuto, compresi cibo e alloggio, a migranti e rifugiati. 8
Tra questi c’è il francese Pierre-Alain Mannoni, che rischia cinque anni di prigione per aver trasportato tre giovani migranti eritrei che sono rimasti feriti dopo dieci ore di cammino durante l’inverno dalla Valle della Roya alla sua casa di Nizza. I soccorritori marittimi Sarah Mardini e Seán Binder sono stati incarcerati in Grecia per più di 100 giorni e possono ancora essere condannati a 25 anni di carcere con l’accusa di spionaggio, rapina e associazione a delinquere. Ci è chiaro che questi individui e le loro organizzazioni che cercano di aiutare i migranti e i rifugiati più vulnerabili a sfuggire a morte certa nel Mediterraneo non possono dare il loro aiuto, mentre ci sono almeno 1.680 migranti e rifugiati che sono morti in quel mare dal 2014. 2
Noi filippini abbiamo purtroppo molta familiarità con gli attacchi contro gli attivisti e i difensori dei diritti, perché si verificano anche nelle Filippine. Ora che i nostri difensori in Europa vengono attaccati, non possiamo restare in silenzio. L’ingiustizia che si è creata nel loro continente non colpisce solo noi. Come destinatari del loro nobile lavoro, non possiamo permettere che questa beffa continui. Non possiamo chiudere gli occhi davanti alle umiliazioni che vediamo ogni giorno infliggere ai nostri difensori: ingiustizia, abusi, violenza e idiozia ufficiale.
I nostri difensori europei che difendono solo i valori europei esemplari dei diritti umani e del rispetto per la vita umana vengono sistematicamente criminalizzati. Come alleanza che lavora per i migranti filippini, gli immigrati e gli esiliati, ci schieriamo con loro ed esortiamo i paesi che ci ospitano a porre fine a questa farsa della giustizia. Dobbiamo sempre ricordare la nobiltà della solidarietà e come sia utile servire coloro che hanno meno, coloro che non hanno nulla, coloro che devono soffrire ogni singola traccia di ingiustizia e di indegnità, giorno dopo giorno.
