STATEMENT - 28 January 2004

Reference: A. MANGAMPO OCIONES,
Chairperson, MIGRANTE Saudi Arabia
Contact No.: +966 5 397 505

MIGRANTE Saudi Arabia condemns, in strongest terms possible, the harassment, dispersal and arrest made by Pasay City Police against the leaders and members of MIGRANTE International, the global alliance of migrant Filipinos and their families as the group pitched their tents in front of the offices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Tuesday, January 27.

We believe this action by the Pasay police is an affront to the democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution which the police, not even OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo have the liberty to trample on.

The "Kampuhan laban sa Kapabayaan at Katiwalian" (Camp-in Against Neglect and Corruption) launched by MIGRANTE International on January 27 is a peaceful expression of protest against the imposition of the OWWA Omnibus Policies, a resolution passed by the OWWA Board of Directors in September 2003 that would utterly dissolve its services and benefits for overseas Filipinos and their families; and, to press for the immediate repatriation of the 16 'stranded' OFWs still in Riyadh.

We urge the Pasay City Police Force, therefore, to reaffirm the Consitutionally mandated right to peaceably assemble and to immediately release from their custody, Maita Santiago, Secretary-General of MIGRANTE International; Richard Evangelista and Mark Ramirez, Chairperson and Deputy Secretary-General respectively of migrant youth group Kalipunan ng Kabataang Migrante para sa Bayan (KAMI 'yan!); Chat Dimaano of the Filipino Seafarers Movement (FSM) and MIGRANTE member Butch Tubera.

This very recent action by the police, reportedly ordered by OWWA Administrator Virgilio Angelo in a country who takes pride in its democratic "space" follows the harrassment employed by the present administration against overseas Filipinos and their families.

On December 21 last year, the 16 stranded Filipinos demanding shelter and their immediate repatriation who were staged a 'hunger strike' in Riyadh were handcuffed and herded out of the Philippine Embassy at the behest of the officials at the Riyadh diplomatic post.

Late last year, the Consulate in Hong Kong SAR banned all forms of protest inside its premises after a massive mobilization by overseas Filipinos against the exaction of USD25 for the OFW E-card.

The arrest made by the Pasay City Police force reflects the rapacity of the government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in protecting its own interests, rather than the people it should be serving by stifling the protests of overseas Filipinos and their families against its rabid anti-migrant policies, foremost of which is the OWWA Omnibus Policies.

Respect and uphold the rights of migrant Filipinos!

Repatriate the stranded Filipinos in Riyadh!

Scrap the anti-migrant OWWA Omnibus Policies!