Flor Contemplacion’s death anniversary marked with rally vs US-NATO wars of aggression
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMILBulatlat.com
MANILA – Members of global alliance of Migrant Filipinos Migrante International marked the 17th year death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion with a protest action held on March 17 at the Chino Roces Bridge (former Mendiola Bridge). This time, they are protesting against the US wars of aggression and deployment of troops in the Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines.
Flor Contemplacion was an overseas Filipino who was sentenced to die in Singapore in 1995 for allegedly killing a fellow Filipino domestic helper.
The OFW and their families marched along Recto to Chino Roces bridge. They also condemned President Benigno S. Aquino III’s puppetry and subservience to US dictates on the country’s political and economic affairs as it endangers the lives of migrant workers and Filipinos as well.
“Seventeen years have passed when Flor was executed in Singapore. However, many Filipino migrant workers abroad are still in death row despite the Magna Carta for Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos, which is supposed to protect migrant workers,” said Gina Esguerra, secretary general of Migrante International.
The Magna Carta for Migrant Workers and and Overseas Filipinos or the Republic Act 8042 institutes policies for the promotion and protection of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos. It was enacted in June 1995, several months after Contemplacion’s execution. However, Esguerra said several administrations have passed and OFWs are still at risk not only in the hands of their employers but also in the raging wars in countries like the Middle East and North Africa where several Filipina OFWs are working.
“The protection is just in paper, but in reality, the government does not protect OFWs and the services got worse. Labor export is more intensified under the present administration because the remittances of OFWs contribute to the country’s economy. The government has forsaken the lives of OFWs in exchange for remittances,” she added.
According to a press release of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas overseas Filipino workers sent home $1.6 billion in January, 5.4 percent higher than in the same month last year.
US-Nato wars of aggression
The group call for a stop the US-Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) war of aggression in war-torn countries like in Syria as it endangers the lives of 17,000 Filipino migrant workers in the said country. In a news report, the US is planning to intervene in Syria.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of our fellow Filipino in Syria. We condemn the escalating violence being instigated and aggravated by US-Nato troops and rebels funded by imperialist forces. It is high time that the Aquino regime revises its foreign policy of staunch support for US wars of aggression and the deployment of US troops,” Martinez said..... MORE
Source: BULATLAT.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/03/20/flor-contemplacions-death-anniversary-marked-with-rally-vs-us-nato-wars-of-aggression/
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