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On December 14, sixteen members of the Kapatiran
ng mga Migranteng Istranded sa Riyadh (KAMI-SR,
the Organization of Migrants Stranded in Riyadh)
launched a hunger strike inside the Philippine
Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The group, whom we came to refer as the 'KAMI-SR 16', is actually just a portion of the numerous overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are 'stranded'
- a term coined to describe migrant workers in
various distress situations who cannot leave for
the Philippines immediately.
KAMI-SR members were demanding their immediate
repatriation, for a shelter or half-way center
for 'stranded' males, for the expulsion of 'incompetent'
case officers, for livelihood assistance when
they get back to the Philippines and for various
reforms, including the scrapping of the Omnibus
Policies of the Overseas Workers Welfare Admimistration
(OWWA).
The hunger strike was the culmination of their
repeated calls for the immediate resolution of
their cases, calls which seemingly has fallen
on deaf ears.
Eight days after the hunger strike, on December 21, at around 8:00 p.m., the group was handcuffed by the Saudi Diplomatic Quarters Security Force and 'escorted' out of the Philippine Embassy, an obvious assault orchestrated to terminate the protest.
As Filipinos, we condemn the callousness of these government officials to the plight of our unfortunate kababayans. These officials in the Philippine Embassy have proven that they cannot resolve the grievances of the numerous 'stranded' OFWs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, not even the merest sincerity to hear their pleas.
As Filipinos, we condemn the abhorrent act by Embassy officials of supplanting the dignity and sovereignty of our diplomatic corps in terminating an issue which should rightly and immediately be resolved by the simplest means of resolution - negotiation and dialogue.
The 'KAMI-SR 16' and the other 'stranded' OFWs are still around, still roaming the Kingdom searching for food and shelter, still waiting for the promises by concerned government representatives in Riyadh and the home front, of immediate resolution of their cases and, consequently, their repatriation.
MIGRANTE-Saudi Arabia
10 January 2003
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
