ISSUE 7 News, Views and Analysis from Migrante Melbourne BATINGAW; BELL; HERALD; The New Voice of Filipino Migrants in Australia In this Edition ISSUE 7 April-May‘07 Pinoys and Pinoy-Australians Vote for 9 GO Senator Survey Shows International Womens Day 2007 May Day in Melbourne Tips: Saving the Planet A safe pedestrian crossing campaign On Student Activism and Apathy Page 2 Editorial by George Kotsakis Chairperson - Migrante Melbourne The real issues at hand - the rights and welfare of the Filipino people. e welcomed the celebrations of Mayday around reward herself the perpetual reign of power to further plun- the world. We have in symbolic terms com der the coffers of the country. Wmemorated the hardship, the long and bitter struggles and the trickling victories of our fellow work- Operation Bantay Laya I and now the Operation Bantay Laya II ers. In a fleeting moment we partook on the rewards of was from the very beginning a covert national policy of the their victories. But in reality these victories are quickly incumbent to suppress if not eliminate the progressive ele- being eroded by the introduction of the new industrial ments in the country. Since her inception to office Pres. Arroyo relations law. The division between the rich and the has 800 plus extra judicial killings attributed to her govern- poor have greatly widen to the point that the majority ment. To ask why only the parties that are critical of her man- that are suffering must again fight and struggle, some- agement have been killed and/or disappeared and no justice times must die to regain the benefit that is supposed has been rendered begs an answer. The Melo Commission and to be an inherent right. Professor Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur of the United Na- tions Human Rights Council, have reported that the military The world today is owned by a handful of men while the have a direct involvement in most of the killings. rest toils in agony, fighting for the crumbs that befall the table of the rich. No matter how much the poor The Philippines will hold an election this coming May 14. Once tries, the system itself fails them. So much for inspira- again we are faced with the prospect that the incumbent will tional talks and salesmanship, of opportunity taking, rig the election. A confidential memorandum from External trading and speculation and of a rosy future, the sys- Affairs Assistant Secretary Marcelo T. Fariñas dated 16 Octo- tem of capitalism has only room for a few and the rest ber 2006 to finance and established 5 party list at the tune of must contend itself to accept failure. 600 million pesos to counter and dilute the strength of the progressive party list headed by Bayan Muna was leaked late Our President Gloria Arroyo claims to have in her heart April. The urban militarization and the rampant politicking of the Filipino people, but her action is contrary to what the military in the rural and urban areas where the progres- she preaches. She says that the Philippine economy has sive party list are strong are apparent electoral manipulation. improved leaps and bound under her watch. The ques- tion that need be asked is- does this economic upturn There is an atmosphere of despair as to the outcome of the translate to the benefit of the majority of the Filipi- May 14 election. Most Filipinos believe that this election will nos? She may be an economic graduate of Georgetown not be fair and will not reflect the will of the people. Most University, a classmate of the ex US Pres. Clinton, but believe that President Arroyo will not allow the defeat of her the economics of human lost has made Pres Arroyo a camp for fear of congressional question and impeachment. tyrant in her own term. Migrante International has raised concern as to the con- To heighten the labor export policy started by the Late duct of the absentee voting. 140,000 ballots that have re- President Marcos to relieve the Philippines from the turn unanswered to the Consulate offices abroad has the deepening crisis of unemployment, exploit its remit- potential to be used to augment the camp of Arroyo. They tances for debt servicing and to call our domestic help- have raised concern that it is as easy as swapping the in- ers as super maids is in itself an insult by President ner envelope containing the actual ballot and leave behind Arroyo to overseas Filipino workers. the detached portion of the ballot with the thumb mark and the signature. There are approximately 504,000 OAV vot- The president being buoyant to American policy, has ers and by contracting private couriers certainly raises surrendered the Philippine sovereignty, opened the en- doubts. tire Philippine territories for American warships by agreeing and adhering on the instrumentalities like VFA At present, Congressman Crispin Beltran is still in deten- (Visiting Forces Agreement), the perpetual joint mili- tion and not allowed to campaign for his Party list tary exercise called BALIKATAN, the Mutual Logistics “Anakpawis”. Congressman Satur Ocampo’s movement is Support Agreement (MLSA) and others without regards closely monitored. The reports of Karapatan on the blatant to the will and safety of the Filipino people. harassment and intimidation of organizers, the report by election watchdog about missing electoral roll in some The Mining Act of 1995 has opened the floodgate of barrios, the continuing killings and abductions of opposi- foreign investors to rape and plunder the mineral rich- tions are but signs of desperations. ness of the country, wherein Arroyo attempted unsuc- cessfully to change the constitution that will further The Arroyo government has lost its grip on the real issues legitimize the exploitation of these resources and to at hand - the rights and welfare of the Filipino people. Page 3 ISSUE 7: April - May 2007 Hot Topics PHILIPPINE POLITICS Pinoys and Pinoy-Australians Vote for 9 GO Senator Survey Shows The full results are: Filipinos and Filipino Australians 1) Legarda, Loren (Nationalist People’s Coalition (G0)): 123 would elect 9 ‘Genuine Opposi- 2) Recto, Ralph: (Lakas-CMD (Team Unity)) 98 3) Cayetano, Alan Peter (Nacionalista Party (G0)): 96 tion’ and only 3 pro-Pres Arroyo 4) Pangilinan, Francis: (Liberal Party (G0)) 95 ‘Team Unity’ candidates if elec- 5) Villar, Manuel: (Nacionalista Party (G0)) 93 tion results mirrored the survey 6) Aquino, Benigno S (Liberal Party (G0)): 89 7) Escudero, Francis J: (Nationalist People’s Coalition (Genuine of 129 potential voters con- Opposition)) 84 ducted by Migrante-Australia via 8) Arroyo, Joker: (KAMPI (Team Unity)) 69 website, email messaging, over 9) Pimentel, Aquilino: (PDP-Laban (G0)) 68 10) Lacson, Panfilo: (UNO (Genuine Opposition)) 64 the phone and face-to-face on 11) Roco, Sonia: (Aksyon Demokratiko ((G0)) 58 12 – 15 April 2007. 12) Angara, Edgardo: (LABAN (Team Unity)) 57 The results indicate strongly that Filipinos living in Australia are rejecting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a regime marked by controversies around issues such as: • On-going summary executions and illegal arrests of human rights, worker, peasant and other activists in a reign of terror against dissenting voices [over 900 killed since January 2001] justified by the rhetoric of the “war on terror”; • Strong evidence pointing to the regime rigging of the 2004 Presidential election narrowly won by Pres Arroyo; • Continuing poverty driving record numbers of Filipinos overseas in the search for employment and the capacity to provide for their families. • Deepening suppression of the rights of Filipino workers as harsh labour laws combine with anti-worker propaganda that equates collective action by workers to terrorism. • Cronyism and corruption at heightened levels reaching up to the very heart of the regime, including involving Arroyo and her husband. • Australian-based Filipinos work extremely hard to be able to provide additional support to their families who are suffering in the Philippines of President Arroyo. Filipinos in Australia suffer worsening employment conditions due to the Howard Governments’ ‘WorkChoices’ legislation. Get Involved! migrante melbourne Name: Migrante Melbourne is a voluntary community organisation Address: of Filipino and Filipino-Australian migrants and workers promoting and upholding their welfare, human rights and Tel: workers’ rights. It also deepens members’ awareness of Email: the root reasons of the Filipino hegira to over 180 countries and settlement issues in their adopted homelands. I would like to: Visit us on the web at www.migrante.org.au become a member of Migrante Melbourne be updated with information from Migrante Melbourne SEND TO PO BOX 606, LAVERTON VIC 3028 or donate to Migrante Melbourne CALL US on 1300 3666 74 Page 4 ISSUE 7: April - May 2007 News INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY 2007 Gabriela Australia participates in the International Women’s Day celebration This year’s International Women’s day marked the 150th year since women in different places around the world started to fight together for their rights and welfare. It was in 1857 when the women garment workers in New York marched and demanded for equal rights at work. Last 8th of March, women in Melbourne rallied in the middle of the city. Many women were wearing colourful clothes in pink, purple, red and other colours. Purple balloons, placards, streamers and banners were flying in the midst of the crowds. The drizzle of rain in the morning did not dampen the celebrations, and women from different walks of life came to participate in the event and listen to various speakers. Speakers, include the Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julia Gillard, ACTU President Sharan Burrow, Gabriela spokesperson May Kotsakis, Victorian TradesHall Executive Council Vice President Ann Taylor and Australian netball player Eloise Southby-Halbish.