Philippines President Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) Must Step Down to Protect the future of the Young Generation of Filipinos and Our Motherland

As the youth in the Philippines keep vigil in the House of Congress to protect Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, Liza Maza, Joel Virador and Rafael Mariano, we join them in their calls for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) to step down and give way to the will of the people. The fact that GMA’s regime is resorting to the desperate move of charging the people’s elected representatives with sedition, giving them no option but to find protection within the confines of the House of Congress, when it is her regime that committed fraudulence in the last election; indicates an ongoing moribund and aggressive tactic to forcibly impose her rule over the Filipino people. A good part of the Philippines’ young people now reside in Australia and overseas, as families are forced to migrate to other countries in sometimes dangerous conditions just to earn dollars to send back home. GMA’s regime actively promoted its Labour Export Policy because it earns billions of dollars from remittances of overseas Filipino workers back to the Philippines. Based on a research in 2005, the Philippine government earns over US $12 billion dollars per year from the remittances of overseas Filipinos. Most of the overseas Filipinos workers’ remittances go to debt servicing. The Philippines’ foreign debt amounts to US$30 billion The forced migration of Filipinos as overseas workers in 200 countries, has led to painful problems such as death, rape, abuse, violence and discrimination, where at most times GMA’s regime has turned a blind eye. Meanwhile families left back home in particular young people are forced to accept the ongoing occurrence of family breakdown, and trauma, as an outcome of the forced family separation and worsening overseas workers problems. Upon settling in Australia, as part of an immigrant family and community, the Filipino youth had to deal with issues such as culture shock, isolation, struggle of cultural identity, racism and discrimination, inter-generational trauma, violence, self-mutilation and suicide, and poverty brought about by family break down. Most often these problems are linked to forced migration that is motivated by search for better lives for all family members. In addition, for the young people who have grown up in Australia, many are struggling to come to terms with their dual identities and maintaining their Filipino heritage. Many feel frustrated by the fact that basic human rights in a supposed to be a democratic society is taken for granted in their host country and at the same time they grapple with the blatant political repression in the Philippines. Hence, many young Filipino and Filipino-Australians are horrified of GMA’s insistence to stay in power. They hope that there will be a new Philippine Government. This new Philippine Government must serve and ensure genuine democracy and development for youth and the rest of the Filipino people. The Filipino-Australian youth support the young people in the Philippines in defence of their country’s heroes such as the people’s representatives who are put under duress for their undying commitment to democracy, equality and justice for all. We believe that the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ accusations are baseless and simply motivated by greed and to grab power away from the Filipino people. Young Filipinos in the Philippines and young Filipinos in Australia take a stand against the continuing political repression in the Philippines. We hope for the ushering of a new dawn, where there will be genuine democracy and development. We call on the Australian Government to withdraw its support for a Philippines government that has continually violated human rights. Mr John Howard must look at the corruption of GMA and how she cheated her way to presidency. GMA continues to violate the rule of law and human rights. We urge Mrs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to · immediately release Crispin Beltran and all arrested human rights activists · drop all the cases against Congresswoman Liza Maza and the following Congressmen: Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, Joel Virador and Rafael Mariano · end political repression Long live the Filipino youth of the Philippines, the generation that will inherit the legacy of this generation! Long live the power of the Filipino People to protest against a moribund system of government. We support a Transition Council that will put in place the people’s government.

06 Mar 2006

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