16 February 2005
YAB Dato Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi
Prime Minister of
Malaysia
Pejabat Perdana Menteri
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan
Persekutuan
Bangunan Perdana Putra, 62502 Putra Jaya
Fax Number: (+603) 8888-3444
Re: AN URGENT APPEAL FOR THE PROTECTION OF UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS IN MALAYSIA
AND STOP THE IMPENDING MASSIVE CRACKDOWN
Dear Prime Minister Badawi,
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants together with the undersigned
non-governmental organizations, institutions, people's formation and individuals
from different parts of the world would like to make an urgent appeal for the
protection of undocumented migrants and to stop your government's impending
massive arrest, detention, caning and deportation of them. Such actions would
only breed more human rights violations and abuses.
Likewise, we demand that your government observe the 1999 Bangkok Declaration
on Undocumented/Irregular Migrants of which your government is one of the
signatories.
The aforementioned Bangkok Declaration states on number 14 that "Irregular
migrants should be granted humanitarian treatment, including appropriate health
and other services, while the cases of irregular migration are being handled,
according to law. Any unfair treatment towards them should be avoided".
The 2002 amended Immigration Act - which permitted public whipping as part of
the penalty for those who overstayed their visas and can be applied to anyone
including women and children aged 10 years old and above - is in direct defiance
of the aforementioned declaration and a violation of international humanitarian
law and norms.
We are also alarmed by your government's plan to mobilize 400,000 civilian
volunteers to take part in the massive arrest, detention, public whipping and
deportation of undocumented migrants and providing them reward money for every
arrested undocumented migrant. This plan will only worsen the situation and can
ignite more widespread human rights violations and abuses. It is practically
whipping up a lynch mob against undocumented migrants.
We also would like to remind your office that since you started to conduct a
series of massive arrests, detention and deportation of undocumented migrants
since 1986, the estimated number of undocumented migrants even increased and the
reported human rights violations and different forms of abuses especially among
women and children have actually increased and worsened. We believe that unless
the root causes of forced migration are addressed, the number of migrants who
are forced to become undocumented will continue.
On the other hand, the tsunami disaster that resulted to grievous devastation
and loss of life among countries mostly of migrant workers in Malaysia as well
as the recent political instability in Nepal are the conditions that will make
the life of migrants in Malaysia even more miserable.
It is in this regard, that we strongly appeal for a humanitarian
consideration for the undocumented migrants in Malaysia and for the immediate
halt of the planned persecution of the undocumented migrants and provide them
the condition to choose if they wish to continue their stay in your country.
The implementation of a comprehensive humanitarian and economic plan together
with the ASEAN countries to address the root causes of the growing numbers of
undocumented migrants and forced migration is a case in point that needs an
urgent and immediate action to alleviate the condition of undocumented
migrants.
Furthermore, we strongly demand the following:
- Abolish the 2002 Amended Immigration Act and implement an Immigration
Policy that adheres to international human rights standards and instruments;
- Abolish the planned mobilization of civilian volunteers in arresting
undocumented migrants;
- Issue extension visas to migrants with pending labor and court cases and
allow them to continue their stay and work with employers who wish to sponsor
them;
- Implement a policy that will address the trafficking issues of women and
children;
- Establish a Special Commission on Migration for a total review and map the
road to a comprehensive policy for the management of migration that upholds
the rights of migrant workers.
Signed by:
HONG KONG SAR and MACAU SAR
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants
(APMM)
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK)
MIGRANTE Party List -
Hong Kong Chapter
Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia di Hong Kong
(ATKI-HK)
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)
Association of
Concerned Filipinos in Hong Kong (ACFIL)
Peggy Lee
Jean Faroden
Leano
Pinatud A Saleng ti Umili (PSU-HK)
Cordillera Allainace in Hong Kong
(CORALL)
Cyril Cacay, Chairperson, Macau Cordillerans Association
(MCA)
MIGRANTE Sectoral Party of Overseas Filipinos and Their Families-Macau
Hong Kong Women Workers' Association
Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers
(MFMW)
Zi Teng
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee (HKCIC)
Thai
Regional Alliance in HK (TRA-AMCB)
Satya Ghale, Secretary, Far East Overseas
Nepalese Association in Hong Kong
(FEONA-AMCB)
Abra Tinguian Ilocano
Society (ATIS-HK)
Mabel Au, International Liaison for HKPAWTO ICN
Conference
Asian Students Association (ASA)
Association of Sri Lanka in
Hong Kong (ASL-AMCB)
Friends of Thais in Hong Kong (FOT-AMCB)
Asian
Migrants Coordinating Body (AMCB)
Hong Kong Women Workers' Association
Sex
Workers Concern Group
MALAYSIA
The National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
Solidarity for
Aceh
Labour Resource Centre (LRC)
Elizabeth Wong, Secretary-General,
National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
THAILAND
Theresa J Limpin, Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific Regional
Resource Center for Human
Rights Education (ARRC)
Taytay, Shan Women's
Action Network (SWAN)
Bandana Pattanaik, Coordinator, Global Alliance Against
Traffic in Women (GATW)
Jurgen Thomas, National Coordinator Thailand, Acting
for Women in Distressing
Situations (AFESIP)
Rahab Ministries,
Bangkok
Patricia Green, World Outreach International
Deepa Bharathi,
Committee for Asian Women, Bangkok
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and
Development(APWLD)
Virada Somswasdi, Chair Graduate Program in Women's
Studies, Women's Studies
Center Faculty of Social Sciences, Chiangmai
University
CAMBODIA
Legal Support for Children and Women, Phnom-Penh
INDONESIA
Serikat Buruh Jabotabek, Jakarta
Serikat Buruh Regional,
Surabaya
Yayasan Bakti Pertiwi, Jakarta
Kelompok Kerja Humanika,
Surabaya
Anna Puspita Rahayu, Program Officer, Solidarity Center Indonesia
(ACILS)
Serikat Buruh Jabotabek, Jakarta
Serikat Buruh Regional, Surabaya
Yayasan Bakti Pertiwi, Jakarta
Kelompok Kerja Humanika, Surabaya
Yayasan Annisa Swasti (YASANTI), Jogjakarta
Sahabat Perempuan, Muntilan,
Magelang, Jawa Tengah
Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia (GRI), Jakarta
Rukun Tani
dan Nelayan, Indonesia (RTN)
Pergerakan Mahasiswa dan Pelajar Indonesia
(PMPI)
Savy Amira Women's Crisis Center, Surabaya, East Java
PHILIPPINES
Solidarity of Cavite Workers
Workers Assistance Center,
Inc.
Connie Bragas-Regalado, Chairperson, Migrante Sectoral Party of Overseas
Filipinos and
Their Families
Maita Santiago, Secretary General, MIGRANTE
International
Alexander Martin Remollino
Rev. Reynaldo B. Cortes,
Moderator, Southeast Asia Network on Undocumented
Children; Asst. Prog.
Secretary, Program Unit on Faith, Witness and Service,
National Council of
Churches in the Philippines
Darlene Menese, Anakbayan
Rep. Liza Maza
(Gabriela Women's Party)
Rosario Padilla
Susan Lubi
Antoinette
Ty
Janice Lee Monte
Anne Louise Guevara
Ligaya Santos
Solomon
Veronica Dacillo
Emma Chiyuto
Oscar dela Cruz
Ima
Ariate
Elmer C. Labog, Chairperson, Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center
Vernie
Yocogan-Diano, Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera (women�s organization)
Cornelia
Ag-agwa, Innabuyog, Gabriela Cordillera (women�s organization)
Leonora
Membrot, Innabuyog-Gabriela Cordillera (women�s organization)
Maria Isabel
Lanada, Executive Director, Children's Rehabilitation Center
Alphonse Rivera,
Program Coordinator, Children's Rehabilitation Center
Bruce Dig, Campaign
Officer, Information and Publicity, Children's Rehabilitation Center
Carlos
Padolina, Secretary General, SALINLAHI Foundation-Philippines, Alliance for
Children's Concern
Hazel Dizon, Campaign Officer, SALINLAHI
Foundation
Jacqueline Ruiz, Parent's Alternative Incorporated (PAI)
Emmi
de Jesus, Secretary General-Gabriela (National Alliance of Women's Organization
in the Philippines)
SRI LANKA
The Democratic Left Front, Sri Lanka
Marriline Jesuthasan,
Office Manager, Sri Lanka Catholic National Commission for
Migrants
Women's Center, Sri Lanka
Anton Marcus, Joint Secretary, Free
Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union
Padmini Weera Suriya,
Women's Center
INDIA
Chanda Asani, social and political activist from India
Yogesh
Grover, President, The Daybreak Society, Delhi
Bishakha Bhanja, Jajnaseni- An
anti-trafficking forum in Orissa
P.Chennaiah, Secretary National
Coordination, Andhra Pradesh Vyavasaya Vruthidarula
Union (APVVU)
NEPAL
Bimala Jnawali-Programme-Coordinator, Alliance Against trafficking
in Women and
Children in Nepal (AATWIN)
Shakti Samuha, Kathmandu
PAKISTAN
Gulzar Ahmed Chaudhary, General Secretary, All Pakistan Trade
Union Federation;
President, Pakistan Workers Confederation
Tariq
Mahmood, Progressive Youth Organization (Affiliated with All Pakistan Trade
Union
Federation)
Nasir Chaudhary, Press & Publication Secretary, All
Pakistan Trade Union Federation
BANGLADESH
Tafazzul Hussain, President, GONOTANTRIC MAJDOOR PARTY
Zakir
Hossain. General Secretary, BANGLADESH JATIYO SRAMIK FEDERATION (BJSF)
Shamim
Ara, Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL-Bangladesh)
Natasha Ahmad,
Human Rights activist
Zakir & Shaila
Krisoks
Krisoker Saar
(Farmers' Voice)
East
Sujankathi
Goila
Agailjhara
Barisal
Bangladesh
Krisoker saar
(Farmers' Voice)
TAIWAN
Sr. Ditma, Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception (MIC),
Taipei
Huang, Hui-Zhen
Ku, Yu-ling , Secretary General, Taiwan
International Workers' Association (TIWA)
Taiwan International Workers'
Association (TIWA)
MIGRANTE Party List-Taiwan Chapter
Lennon Ying-Dah
Wong, Chinese Federation of Labour; Taiwan Migrants' Forum
Taiwan Migrants'
Forum
Eduardo M. Leano, Keelung
Mayneil L. Leano, Keelung
Mei-hua Chen,
Assistant Professor, Kaohsiung Medical University
Pei-Chia Lan, Assistant
professor, Dept of Sociology, National Taiwan University
Stephana Wei,
Director of Rerum Novarum Center
Nina, Huang, Specialist of International
Affairs of Peacetime Foundation in Taiwan
Rev. Joyaito F. Tajonera, M.M.
Maryknoll Asia Migrant Ministry
Hsiu-Li Lin, International Action and
Cooperation Team (iACT)
Hsiao-Chuan Hsia, Associate Professor, Graduate
Institute for Social Transformation
Studies, Shih Hsin
University
Hsiang-Lin,Lai, General secretary, Solidarity Front of Women
Workers (SFWW), Taiwan
Labor group
Willi Boehi, Migrant Concerns, TAIWAN
GRASSROOTS WOMEN WORKERS CENTRE, Taipei
Tang, Shu, Labor Rights Association
Taiwan Association for Human Rights, Taipei
JAPAN
Filipino Migrants Center, Nagoya
Philippine Society in Japan
(PSJ)
Kalipunan ng mga Pilipinong Nagkakaisa, Nagoya
League of Filipino
Seniors (LFS)
Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP)
Ecumenical Learning Center for Children (ELCC)
SOUTH KOREA
Osan Migrant Workers Center, Kyung Ki Do
Asia Pacific
Workers Solidarity Links Korea, Seoul
Garry Martinez, Chaiperson,
KASAMMAKO
Carlo Oliver, Executive Committee Member, KASAMMAKO
Vivian
Vergara EC member KASAMMAKO
Nisa Umlash, Women on the Move (WEMOVE)
Arlene
Baluyut, Women on the Move (WEMOVE)
Nash Umlash, Federation of Filipino
Workers in Korea (FFW-Korea)
Pastor Jones Galang, Migrante Party List-Korea
Chapter
Romy Macabali, President, Pocheon Ecumenical Community
Dan Santos,
President, New Era Foundation, Seoul
Noel Salas, General Secretary,. New Era
Foundation, Seoul
Fernando Mallari New Era Foundation
Renato Camacho,
Pocheon Ecumenical Community, Seoul
Jerry Martinez, Pocheon Ecumenical
Community, Seoul
Jobert Vergara, Bicol Association
Dan Santos, President
New Era Foundation
Celso Panlaqui, New Era Foundation, Pucheon
Noel
Salas, New Era Foundation
Fernando Mallari, New Era Foundation
June
Lising, New Era Foundation
Ben Colis, New Era Foundation
Dong Cayanan, New
Era Foundation
Beng Dizon, New Era Foundation
Balise Baluyut, New Era
Foundation
Ramon De La Cruz, New Era Foundation
Alex Guintu, New Era
Foundation
Meng Sicat, New Era Foundation
Manny Tionsong, New Era
Foundation, Suwon
Dean Lumbanf, New Era Foundation
Dan Manalili, New Era
Foundation
Fe Macabali, New Era Foundation
Joel Besa, New Era
Foundation
Monang Besa, New Era Foundation
Toto Peres, New Era
Foundation
Allan Patawaran, New Era Foundation
Paner Liwanag, New Era
Foundation
Dong Tolosa, New Era Foundation
Mel Sampang, New Era
Foundation
Violy Reyes, New Era Foundation
Joxe Murguzur, Franciscan
AUSTRALIA
Fr. Brian D. Byrne SVD, Justice and Peace promoter, Australia
Province
Peter Murphy, Coordinator, SEARCH Foundation, Sydney
Reyvi
Marinas, Co-Convenor, Philippine Caucus for Peace (PCP)
May Kotsakis,
Chairperson, Philippines Australia Solidarity Association
Butch Kotsakis,
Chairperson, Migrante Melbourne
Malou Logan, Convenor, Philippine Caucus for
Peace
Christie Rivera, Chairperson, Gabriela Australia
Danny Fernandez,
Deputy Chairperson, Migrante Melbourne
Jun Cabanos, Coordinator, Philippines
Project - Australia Asia Workers Link (AAWL)
NEW ZEALAND
Philippine Migrant Center-Auckland
CANADA
Pinay- (Filipino Women�s of Quebec), Montreal, Quebec
Kabataan
Montreal-Montreal, Quebec
Filipino Workers Support Group - Montreal, Quebec
Center for Filipino Concern (CPC)- Montreal, Quebec
Ugnayan ng Kabataang
Pilipino sa Canada (Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance)
Parichart Ruengvisesh,
Vancouver, British Columbia
South Asian Women's Community Centre, Montreal,
Quebec
VCASAA - Vancouver Custody & Access Support and Advocacy
Association, Vancouver
Coalition of South Asian Women Against Violence,
Vancouver
Kara Patterson
Parichart Ruengvisesh, Vancouver
Primate's
World Relief & Development Fund (PWRDF), Toronto
SIKLAB (Sulong, Itaguyod
ang Karapatan ng Mangagawang Pilipino sa Labas ng Bansa)
B. C. Committee for
Human Rights in the Philippines, B.C.
Philippine Women Centre of
B.C.
Filipino Nurses Support Group (UKPC)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Pilipino-Americans Organizing Workers for
Empowerment & Respect (POWER)
Ligaya Lindio McGovern, Ph.D., Associate
Professor of Sociology
Filipino Workers Action Center, Seattle,
Washington
Pesante-USA
Coalition to Defend Immigrant Rights (CDIR), Los
Angeles
Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV)
Filipino Workers'
Association (FWA), San Francisco
First Quarter Storm Network
(FQSN)
Nagliliyab (Burning Bush), Los Angeles
Alliance for a Just and
Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP)
Arturo P.Garcia, Echo Park Community
Coalition, Los Angeles
Rene Rivera, Philippine-US Solidarity Organization
(PUSO), Seattle, WA
Amanda Vender, DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association, New
York
MIDDLE EAST
Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan (KGS), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA)
Mangampo Ociones, Chairperson, Migrante Sectoral Party KSA
Chapter
Angelito Fedelino, KGS-Riyadh, KSA
Armando G. Ordonez,
Chairperson, MIGRANTE-Jubail, KSA
Nhel Morona, Migrante-Dubai, United Arab
Emirates
Antonio D. Coloma, Coalition of OFW Associations (COFWA) Eastern
Province, KSA
Freda Editha O. Contreras, OFWNet Foundation, Kuwait
Chapter
Lakas ng Manggagawa sa Silangang Probinsya, (LMSP-Migrante), KSA
MIGRANTE Sectoral Party, Riyadh Second Industrial City Chapter,
KSA
MIGRANTE Sectoral Party, Riyadh (KSA) Chapter
Riyadh OFW Association
(ROFWA), KSA
Kapatiran ng Migranteng Stranded sa Riyadh (KAMI-SR), KSA
Phi
Lambda Upsilon (PLU), KSA
Rene Valenzuela, Secretary-General, MIGRANTE KSA
Chapter
Richard Bautista, Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan, (KGS-Migrante),
KSA
Dennis Linganay, Riyadh Second Industrial City, KSA
Mario Ben, Riyadh
Second Industrial City, KSA
Leonilo Llosa, Riyadh, KSA
Albert Ariola
EUROPE
Princess Urduja, Foundation for Filipino Women Immigrants,
Netherlands
Jake Clemencio, Concerned Citizens of Switzerland
Dr. Prem
Kumar Rajaram, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Central
European University, Budapest, Hungary
Georgios A. Antonopoulos,
University of Durham, United Kingdom
Mike Dottridge, former director of
Anti-Slavery International, London
Elena Tyuryukanova, Ph.D., Russian Academy
of Sciences, Migration Studies, Russia,
Moscow
Agliberto Aquino, Comuniti
Filippina in Toscana, Florence, Italy
Marta Gonzalez, Proyecto Esperanza,
Spain
Olivier Dehoorne (UAG-Martinique/ FWI), Universite� Antilles-Guyane
Faculte� des
Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Martinique, France
Arnel G.
Alcober, CMF - JPIC Secretariat of the Claretian Missionaries
Didier Bigo,
Journal Cultures et Conflits, Paris
OTHERS: Pipat Traichan and Amy Leigh Brown
Statement Released by:
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
No. 2,
Jordan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Reference: Ramon Bultron, Managing
Director
Contact Nos. (852) 2723-7536, 9477-3141
11 February
2005
