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ND February 2010.Pmd Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants NNewsews February 2010 APMM DDigestMonthly Newsletter of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) Overseas Filipinos to cast their votes on May 2010 polls The Philippine elections and the plight of OFWs FOR THE THIRD time, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) shall participate in the Philippine elections through the overseas absentee voting (OAV). This month, the campaign for various posts have started and OFWs around the region are taking up the cudgels of campaigning for progressive candidates, who have, by platform and records, defended and upheld the interests of OFWs and their families. OFWs and the Philippine Elections The Philippine elections have always been characterized with fraud and violence. Many OFWs have expressed their lack of confidence in a process that is supposed to be the democratic expression of the people’s will. Scandals have rocked past Amidst the unfriendly weather, Filipino migrants in Hong Kong welcomed with enthusiasm elections and in the recent past, it was the candidates from Gabriela Women’s Party and senatorial aspirants Rep. Satur Ocampo and Rep. Liza Maza. Said candidates got the nod of many OFW groups for their record and “Hello Garci” scandal that involved no less platform of service to OFWs and their families. than Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. Vote shaving or the infamous “dagdag-bawas” has been a Despite these, OFWs – especially in the progressive movement common practice everywhere while exploitation of the of Filipinos overseas – recognize the importance of election as vulnerability of the poor has also made vote-buying and other one of the arenas where the rights of migrants Filipinos and schemes widespread. their families can also be defended and promoted. Meanwhile, the condemnable crime of the Maguindanao The experience of OFWs with supporting Gabriela, for example, Massacre has showcased electoral violence that has pervaded as its party-list of choice in the 2007 polls has resulted to the system. Progressive party-list groups such as Bayan Muna, finally having a voice inside the Philippine Congress who can Gabriela, Anakpawis and Kabataan have also been targeted drumbeat the concerns of overseas Filipinos inside the halls for harassment, intimidation and their members and leaders of the Congress. A lone voice maybe, but with the support of have also been killed or forcibly disappeared. Mass other progressive legislators, OFWs has become a legislative organizations that support them have also been subjected to concern. gross human rights violations. 2 News Digest February 2010 The concern on the In 2007, the first IOM was convened. viability of the AES Some of the observations they stated is valid for what is included: significant number of at stake is the right disenfranchisement of voters and vote to vote of OFWs buying, deadly election-related violence, who have long direct intimidation of voters by elements beenof the Armed Forces of the Philippines disenfranchised (AFP), suspicious absence and and only through abandonment of duties and the OAV can be a responsibilities of COMELEC officials at part of the numerous voting locations and incidents national political of overt coercion by candidates from exercise that is the powerful political clans. elections. The said PIOM also noted the resilience Even more than of the organized grassroots communities Filipino migrants expressed fears of a new wave of disenfranchisement this, the unstable despite the difficulties they faced. in the coming elections. This included the delisting of Migrante, political situation breakdown of automated elections in HK and Singapore, and fraud and in the country The role of the PIOM is very important to violence in the Philippines. makes the fear of inhibit traditional politicians from failure of elections resorting o their tried and tested dirty Now that more progressive candidates and other scenario that results to the tricks to win the polls. As independent are running for positions led by Rep. current government staying in power a observers, they are also in the position Satur Ocampo and Rep. Liza Maza, there valid one. It is a known fact that GMA is to say whether the democratic exercise is a bigger push among OFW groups in desperately clinging on to power and of election really exists in the country. different countries to clinch more news of a not-perfect AES or possible electoral victories to gain a bigger and power outtages during elections – Conclusion stronger voice in venues long- compounded by GMA’s own election- monopolized by the powers that be. rigging record – are complete recipe for In every arena of struggle, it is the an electoral disaster. organized strength of the people that is The Automated Election System – boon important. While OFWs recognize that or bane? People’s International Observer Mission the fundamental changes cannot be had through elections alone, their For the 2010 polls, the Philippines will As a civil society action, distinguished participation in the electoral struggle can make its first attempt for an automated individuals from the grassroots also pave the way for meaningful changes election. Overseas, automation will be organizations, NGOs, the academe, that will alleviate the hardships OFWs done in Hong Kong and Singapore – two religious and other sectors are convening and their families’ experience. countries with the big numbers of the People’s International Observers registered voters. Mission (PIOM) 2010 to monitor and United and concerted action is still the investigate cases of fraud and violence, paramount mover of change. While it is touted to speed up the process, monitor the operations of the AES, protect many groups have already expressed the people’s vote and gain international In the end, this is also where the worry on the viability of implementing attention on the situation of democratic empowerment of migrant workers and the Automated Election System or AES processes in the country. their families lies. smoothly. This close to the elections, there are still glitches on the machines and extreme lack of transparency on how Be a part of the People’s Watchdog it will be operated from the voting to the counting of votes to the transmission of results. JOIN THE PIOM 2010! In Hong Kong, OFW organizations who actively worked to raise the rate of Objectives turnout during the registration period To monitor and investigate electoral fraud and violence Specific to the Automated Election System, to monitor its have already expressed concerns on how implementation, safeguards and uncertainties the AES will be conducted considering To support the people’s efforts to protect their votes that no information or education drive To call the attention of the international community to has been done a mere month before the the situation and practice of democratic processes in OAV starts. Worse, there is no backup plan the Philippines in case the AES breaks down that may result to the denial of the voting right for For details of the PIOM 2010, please contact the many OFWs. secretariat at [email protected] Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants News Digest February 2010 3 Indon migrants slam APMM takes part in Anglican consultation gov’t for neglect on mission for migrants and refugees THREE HUNDRED INDONESIAN migrants THE ASIA PACIFIC from the ATKI, PILAR & GAMMI held a Mission for protest action at the Indonesian Migrants (APMM) Consulate on 7 February 2010 to took part in the condemn the newly-elected meeting last January government President Susilo Bambang 12 - 14 of Yudhiono which marked the end of its representatives of first 100 days on January 28. Anglican Churches in various countries to Karsiwen, ATKI vice chairperson, said discuss the revival that nothing changed in the new of the Anglican government of because his policies are Refugee and not geared toward the well being of Migrants Network the Indonesian people. (ARMN) as mandated by Representatives of Abglican churches and partner NGOs discussed the relevance and need of responding to problems of migrant Resolution 31 of the “It is quite clear that he is only after the workers. Consultation participants united on the importance of th investments of multinational 14 Anglican operationalizing the ARMN. corporations. For example, he allowed Consultative attended shared their work among PT Freeport Indonesia for the gold Council. migrants and refugees in their respective mining in Papua and oil drilling in country. The sharing of experiences Bojonegoro. Even worse, the Hosted by the HK Sheng Kung Hui became a venue for sharing of ideas as government took the land from the poor (Province of Hong Kong Anglican/ well on how Anglican churches can people to plant coconut palm and Episcopal Church), the meeting featured further become responsive to the plight develop this into another form of oil sharing of work on refugees and migrants of migrants and refugees in the world. industry,” she stressed. by the participants and the finalization of the concept of the ARMN. Mr. Bultron, managing director of the The programs of the new Indonesian APMM shared the work of the group in government have displaced many The consultation was attended by The the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. people in different parts of the country, Very Revd Andrew Chan of the St. John’s He emphasized on the regional and according the Karsiwen. Displaced Cathedral (Hong Kong), The Rt Revd David global advocacies, research and peoples have no place to go but apply Lai of Taiwan Episcopal Church (Taiwan), education work that APMM conducts on for domestic work abroad which is a Revd Joachim Kim of Towards Peace in the concerns of migrant workers of clear implementation of the Korea (South Korea), Ms. Deborah Stein different nationalities in order to help government plan to export one to two of the Episcopal Migration Ministries build and strengthen the movement of million Indonesians every year.
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