RP government violated rights of migrants, PGA organisers claim

MANILA, Philippines – While Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may have drawn applause from participants of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Wednesday, organizers of a parallel event criticized her administration for violating the rights of migrants these past few days.

Groups belonging to the People's Global Action (PGA) on Migration, Development and Human Rights chided the government for blocking the report presentation of 17 civil society delegates to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday morning as agreed upon earlier.

"It is ironic that while Mrs. Arroyo projects herself as a migrant rights champion, she is doing the other way around by thwarting our right to present our reports to the UN Secretary General. This is During her speech at the official event, Mrs. Arroyo urged all countries to ratify the international hypocrisy!" exclaimed Rex Varona of the Asian Migrant Centre.convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, drawing applause from the participants.

PGA organizers also criticized the administration for stifling the voice of other civil society groups from the entire GFMD process by blocking activities, peaceful rallies, and other initiatives to represent the interests of the migrant workers.

"The government even threatened to deport foreign nationals who are joining PGA-related activities," Varona said.

Earlier, the group has condemned the revocation of permit to hold activities from October 22 – 30, 2008 at the Rajah Sulayman Park, a public space, as the venue of parallel events organized by migrants, advocates, and other civil society organizations, to the GFMD.

The Manila City government had issued a permit for the use of the park last June 25, 2008 only to be revoked on October 2 on the recommendation of Manila Police District. It was conveyed to the PGA by fax on October 6, 2008 and was affirmed with finality on October 16, 2008 during the meeting with PNP-NCRPO Regional Director Jefferson Soriano and Manila Police Department Director Roberto Rosales .

"We did not accept the so-called alternative venue that has been offered to us, the Mehan Garden, because doing so would mean accepting the further exclusion of migrant workers and their advocates from the global discussions at the GFMD," said William Gois of the Migrant Forum in Asia.

For more information, please visit PGA's website at: http://www.mfasia.org/peoplesglobalaction/index.html

Note: Freedom from Debt Coalition is part of the People's Global Action (PGA) on Migration, Development and Human Rights.