Migrants, refugees and displaced peoples in Europe stand united!

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Migrants, refugees and displaced peoples in Europe stand united!

The cases of abuse and exploitation of Filipino migrants all over the world continues to increase, so we must be more resilient and more united in action.Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson of Migrante-International

Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson of Migrante-International

As the global economic crisis boils up, the ruling powers are aggressively bolstering the oppressive social order that afflicts the majority of the masses as in the case with the recently concluded UK elections. Gary Martinez, a UK based migrant’s advocate lamented that “the year maybe changing, but the situation of migrants, refugees and other displaced people and their families are not changing because of stricter immigration laws not just  in the UK but in the rest of Europe.” Cora Espanto, the president of Migrante in The Hague and a survivor of modern-day-slavery agrees with that statement and adding that “Filipinos in diaspora must be united in standing up against anti-migrant rhetoric and policies not just in Europe but in the whole world.” Umangat-Migrante Rome chairperson, Enrelito del Carmen and Victor Salloman a member, continues to call for the regularization of irregular migrants in Europe.

Individuals and groups of people are further forced to leave their homes due to economic hardships, environmental degradation and/or armed conflicts to become migrants, refugees or displaced peoples.

Father Herbert Fadriquela, Chair of Migrante-Europe, says, “Land-based and sea-based Filipino migrants are like the shepherds in the nativity. They are set apart and separated away from their families, spending a long time away from home. The migrant workers have very important roles in the host country. They bring things and work on the things that the people of the world needs. The financial remittances of the migrant workers to the home country make the economy survived. Without the migrant workers, the global economy will not work. Unfortunately, while the Philippine government regards, the migrants as “modern-day heroes” they are treated as milking cows with the imposition of exorbitant fees other state exaction fees.” 

In the Philippines, we find the puppet US-Duterte regime is finding pleasure in its harlotry with imperialist rivals China and the United States. Continuing plunder of our country’s resources and violation of our economic rights, the Filipino people, including those in diaspora in Europe, has build stronger unity with other oppressed people of the world to resist the imperialist aggression of the US and China. The impoverishment of the Filipino people is aggravated through various neoliberal schemes like the TRAIN law, state exactions on OFWs, contractualization, rice liberalization law, and the further institutionalization of the government’s labour export program through the impending creation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos.  

Moving to quash the waxing outcry of resistance from Filipino migrants across Europe, the US-Duterte regime institutionalized Fascist tyranny through the formation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in accordance with Executive Order 70. The Whole-of-Nation-Approach allows AFP and PNP to muster all government resources and institutions to impose state terror not only in the mother land but also where Filipinos reside in Europe. We have witnessed in Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and other European countries how the NTF-ELCAC has wasted our remittances and our people’s taxes by recruiting “spies” amongst our ranks. We continue to remind the different Philippine embassies and consulates that they have the responsibility to help all Filipinos in need regardless of status. 

Contributing to the global fight against fascism, nazism and neoliberalism as what we are seeing in the broad mass actions in France, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Haiti, Lebanon and in many other parts of the world is fundamental to our national democratic experience in the Philippines. The presence of organized Filipinos overseas plays a significant role in exposing the crimes of the US-Duterte regime before the international community. Only Duterte’s ouster and the complete overthrow of feudalism, bureaucrat capitalism and imperialism shall give deliverance to the Filipino people from perdition. 

The International Migrants’ Day is the day when we glorify and honor our fellow Filipino migrants and their allies who claimed this day in 1997 as “The International Day of Solidarity for Migrants.” The UN recognition and designation of this day only happened in the year 2000. Member organizations of Migrante-Europe from Austria ; Belgium ; Denmark ; France ; Germany; Greece; Iceland; Ireland; Italy, The Netherlands, Norway; Russia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom; and many more will participate in different actions as part of its solidarity work with other migrant groups. Migrante-Europe salutes all progressive Filipinos in diaspora, our families and our allies in our strong resolve to build a strong movement not only in the Philippines but in the entire world.

Migrants, refugees and displaced people of the world unite!
Defend migrants, refugees and displaced people’s right!
Migranteng Pilipino, Ngayon ay Lumalaban!

Migrante Europe 2nd Congress photo gallery

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Migrante Europe 2nd Congress photo gallery

Migrante Europe Members Spoke Up in a Mass on Forced Migration and Alarming Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

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Migrante Europe Members Spoke Up in a Mass on Forced Migration and Alarming Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

Como, Italy – Three members of Migrante-Europe, Stella Matutina  of ICHRP-EU (Germany), Victor Salloman of Umangat Rome (Italy), and Prof. Alex Pasion  of Migrante Como (Italy), spoke up in front of the  of the numerous parishioners during the Liturgical Celebration for the Feast of the  Immaculate Conception, last Sunday, 08 December.

Through the invitation of Don Giusto Della Valle, the Rector of Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio, Como, the three representatives of Migrante Europe mentioned the two historical events that took place in the Parish: 2nd Assembly IMA Europe and 2nd Congress Migrante Europe.

Prof. Alex Passion (Migrante Como)

Alex, a university professor, shared the significance of the International Migrant’s Alliance (IMA) and Migrante Europe Congress to migrants, refugees and displaced peoples. He explained further that poverty is the root cause of forced migration of the majority of Filipinos. Violent conflicts forced people to attempt dangerous border crossings, while the impact of climate change is already being felt in many parts of the world, as prolonged droughts, desertification, and more frequent natural calamities are already eroding livelihoods and leading to displacement. He also reminded the parishioners not to accept the current narratives coming from the right-wing governments including those from Italy, that migrants are a threat to national security and employment (job-stealing). 

Victor Salloman (Umangat Rome)

Victor spoke about the Photo Exhibit of the victims of the Drug War and how Duterte’s “drug war” is affecting the Filipino people of which mostly the poor. Stella shared how everyone was not safe, including church people. At least three Italian missionaries were killed defending the rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines, and she also shared the dangers of red-tagging of genuine defenders of human rights in the country.

The “Speak Up Event” on Migration and Human Rights Situation in the Philippines that took place in the Parrocchia San Martino was warmly accepted by the congregation, and thanks to the generosity of the Rector Don Giusto Della Valle and the community.

The Speak Up Event and the Photo Exhibits in the Parish were organized by the Migrante Milan Como in collaboration with Migrante Europe and IMA Europe.

Austrian Network for Justice & Peace in the Philippines (ANJPP)

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Austrian Network for Justice & Peace in the Philippines (ANJPP)

As we commemorate the International Human Rights Day, we view with deep concern the rapid deterioration of the human rights situation in the Philippines. We are witnessing how far the country has regressed in terms of upholding, respecting, and protecting people’s rights,

This situation is aptly described by Karapatan saying: “There is a human rights crisis in the country. Regardless of the denials and legal acrobatics by the Duterte government, it has made its mark as a murderous regime that disregards people’s rights. This government’s record is besmirched with blood, with thousands killed in the sham drug war and counterinsurgency program, thousands displaced by bombings and militarisation, hundreds arbitrarily detained and filed with trumped-up charges, and thousands more harassed, red-tagged, and threatened for their activism.”

In its 12 December report Karapatan said: “on top of the thousands killed in the drug war, the group has documented 293 political killings – 167 of which are human rights defenders. At least 204 were tortured, 429 were victims of frustrated extrajudicial killings, 11 were forcibly disappeared, and 94,075 were threatened and harassed. It is also under Duterte that the number of political prisoners in the country have sharply risen. Having arrested 382 of the 629 political detainees in the country, the Duterte government is responsible for the unjust incarceration of more than half of political prisoners in the country.”

Duterte’s hand in the rampant violations perpetrated under his term is evident. This is made clear with the barrage of repressive policies that is meant to justify repression and funnel State resources to silence critics.

Among the foremost repressive policies on Duterte’s playbook are its sham drug war, its counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapanatagan, martial law in Mindanao, Memorandum No. 32, and its new task force for harassing legal organisations, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) created by Executive Order No. 70 (s2018).

On the other hand, the Tao Po performance in Vienna, Austria last October 12 and was a great success and watched by more than a hundred people. The event “was overwhelming!”, the big attendance was unexpected. Day after the event of Tao Po a successful followed up discussion was be held at Amerlinghaus, Stiffgasse, 1070 Vienna, that led to the formation of temporary steering committee for Rise UP for Life-Austria.

More so, on 20 November 2019, Migrante Austria submitted and open letter to President Duterte via the office of Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad. And on the same day at 5-7pm, members of Migrante Austria and its allied organisations held protest rally near the office of the Philippine Embassy at Donau City, Vienna.

The open letter/protest rally demanded President Duterte to :

  • stop the war waging against the Filipino people!
  • to kill poverty – not the poor and those who
  • defend them!
  • listen and act on the decades-long call of
  • Filipinos for genuine social reforms and respect
  • for human rights!

A further development took place in the 2nd Migrante Europe Congress in Como, Italy last 8 December 2019. Bishop Antonio Ablon, President of Mindanao Bishops Conference, agreed to be the guest speaker of a round table discussion here in Vienna on 19 January 2020, 5-7pm on the impact of the gross human rights violations in the Philippines on the marginalised sectors of our society, ie, Lumads, etc.

Thus, the steering committee of Rise up for Life and Migrante Austria in its meeting last 11 December 2019 recommended the formation of Austrian Network for Justice & Peace in the Philippines (ANJPP) whose objectives are:

  • Raise awareness in Austria about the situation in the Philippines
  • Organise and participate in activities in support of the Filipino people’s rights and democratic aspirations
  • Condemn the intensifying killings, repression and other human rights violations in the Philippines
  • Stop the support of the government of Austria to the repressive Duterte government.

Furthermore, we call all churches to unite against the oppressive measures of the Duterte regime against critics. It is our moral obligation to oppose the killing of human beings and to defend the defenders.

Let our prayers be put into action and let us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” as stressed in 1 Peter 5:8. Within this troublesome tide, the church people must continue to give witness to our faith and march forward in defense of the Filipino people’s common values and aspirations for human dignity, justice and peace.

Migrante Austria
10 December 2019

Migrante-Europe Second Congress: A Manifestation of Continuous Commitment

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Migrante-Europe Second Congress: A Manifestation of Continuous Commitment

Como, Italy – Migrante-Europe held a fun-filled but full of militancy its 2nd congress on 8 December 2019 in Como, Italy. With the theme “ Expand and strengthen our unity! Promote and defend the rights and welfare of Filipinos and their families in Europe and abroad! Contribute and participate in the struggle for national freedom and democracy!”  The congress was attended by more than one hundred participants representing 28 Filipino organizations coming from various countries in Europe.

Fr Herbert Fadriquela Jr, the incumbent Chairperson of Migrante-Europe opened the congress with a roll call of member organizations as well as welcoming new member organizations. The occasion was also graced with the presence of  Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Iglesia Filipina Independent (IFI) of the Diocese of Pagadian City, Philippines and Don Giusto Della Valle, Rector of the Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio, Como. Both clergy gave very challenging and inspiring messages to the participants.

“Migrants, migrant workers and refugees of all kinds are all part of diaspora — the exodus or mass relocation of peoples due to societal or/and natural causes. The individual who migrated autonomously is still part of a phenomenon of mass displacement. Whether the displacement is apparently voluntary or involuntary through commercial recruiters (such as manning agencies, placement services, and other private trafficking businesses and ‘official trafficking policies’). Conflicts and natural calamities are sudden events that produce refugees on a mass scale. But societal or/and natural conditions can also be slow-evolving, resulting involuntary migration of individuals. All of this result in a diaspora – displacement and the creation of a mass of peoples or communities of the displaced. The worsening economic, environmental and human rights crisis in the Philippines continues to drive 7,000 Filipinos out of the country every day;” stressed Bishop Ablon.

San Martino Parochial Priest Don Giusto Della Valle

San Martino Parochial Priest Don Giusto Della Valle, shared the works of his parish helping undocumented migrants as well as refugees. He also shared his reflections on how human lives are becoming hostages to the ever-changing political landscape in Italy. 

The Congress elected the officers that will compose the Executive Committee of the alliance in the next three years, namely: Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr. of Bayanihan Leicestershire in United Kingdom as Chairperson; Ann Brusola  of Gabriela-Rome as Vice-Chairperson for Internal Affairs; Evangeline Irabon of Migrante-Como as Vice-Chairperson for External Affairs; Marlon Lacsamana of Migrante-The Hague, Netherlands as Secretary General; Rhodney Pasion of Migrante-Bologna as Deputy Secretary General;  Kendy Sario, of Ugnayan ng mga Pilipino sa Belgium as Treasurer; and Elnora Held of Gabriela-Germany as Auditor,

The congress also approved the General Program of Action (GPOA) for 2020-2023 and the Constitution and By-Laws of Migrante-Europe. 

Reference:

Marlon T. Lacsamana
Secretary General, Migrante Europe
[email protected]

Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
Chairperson, Migrante Europe
[email protected]

IMA-Europe 2nd Congress A Success!

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IMA-Europe 2nd Congress A Success!

The International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe held a successful 2nd congress on 07 December 2019 in Como, Italy. With the theme of “Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Peoples Building Unity, Organizing to Reclaim Rights”, the congress was attended by over 100 participants representing 31 grassroots organizations and migrants, refugees and displaced peoples from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  

Don Giusto Della Valle, Rector of the Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio welcomed the congress delegates to his parish, known in the area for its work with displaced migrants and refugees.  “We are builders of peace. But what kind of society do we want to build in Italy? How are we going to build it if we do not allow people to stay and allow them to contribute to this project? We need to support migrants because local legislation is becoming more and more unfriendly towards them.”

Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Philippine Independent Church (IFI) and representing the European Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines (ENJPP) stressed how the worsening economic and human rights crisis in the Philippines continues to drive 7,000 Filipinos out of the country everyday. He further stressed the role of the diaspora in the project of social and national liberation in their countries of origin.

Fabio Cani of Como Senza Frontiere said that we have to narrate migrant stories as testimonies of unjust global structural problems.  Pietro Bassi, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Masteral Course in Immigration at the University of Venice, warned of a ‘war’ against migrants and immigrants being waged by Europe. ‘It seems Europe does not want migrant workers. But in fact, they contribute 10% to the receiving country’s GDP.  They want migrants but if possible on their knees, naked and without expectations or irregular – that is, irregularized, with no rights and clandestine.’

The assembly also elected their new set of officers including (Chairperson) Zaria Galiano of Comitato Degli Immigrati, Italy; (Vice Chairperson) Ibrahim Coulibaly of Associazione Mande, Europe; (Secretary General) Maitet Ledesma of Pinay sa Holland-GBARIELA, Netherlands; and (Treasurer) Helen Bulusan of the Filipino Domestic Workers Association, UK. Revelin Irabon of Migrante Como-Milano youth committee, Italy was elected as representative for refugees.

As a sign of their growing commitment to strengthen their unity across Europe, the assembly welcomed 20 new members to the regional alliance. The general program of action approved by the assembly aims to grow the alliance in the next 3 years to provide an effective network that will bring the voices of migrants, refugees and displaced peoples in all arenas of advocacy – from the local to the regional – for the purpose of organizing to reclaim their rights!

International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe

Contact: Maitet Ledesma

[email protected]

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