2011年2月15日
「台菲友好協會」非常關切菲律賓政府在企圖修補與中國大陸外交關係時,是如何對待菲律賓在台灣的人民。我們譴責菲律賓政府為了搶救與中國的外交關係,而犧牲其在台灣工作之人民的利益。
「台菲友好協會」是一個集結關注菲律賓議題的台灣人民的組織,包括勞工、原住民、學者、學生、移民/工等,我們在此要提醒菲律賓總統艾奎諾三世(Benigno Aquino III),在台灣等國工作的海外菲律賓人是菲律賓經濟的命脈。」呼籲菲律賓政府將在台灣的菲律賓人民的福祉先於外交問題。
眾所周知,菲律賓的外交政策只是圖利政府官員,一如前總統艾若育家人涉及中國中興通訊股份有限公司(ZTE)承建3.29億美元國家寬頻網路賄賂一案。
另一方面,我們也讉責要求台灣政府以凍結菲律賓移工為向菲律賓政府報復手段的政客,他們必須認清外籍勞工幫助台灣經濟發展,以及照顧台灣的老弱病殘家人的事實。以外籍勞工為代罪羔羊是虛偽且不智的。
「台菲友好協會」目睹了在台灣的菲律賓和其他國籍的外籍勞工仍持續受到虐待和剝削。雖然民間組織和服務移工的機構努力不懈地保障移工權利,但是,只要移工輸出國政府,如菲律賓,持續將政治外交先於保護海外人民的福祉,那麼在台灣移工的權益永遠無法獲得保障。
我們相信,以人民為優先的政治外交,才是更為互惠的作法。
最後,我們呼籲菲律賓和台灣的人民不要被政客分化。我們應建立更深厚的人民與人民之間的合作與團結。
聯絡人:夏曉鵑 (0930052381)
TAIWAN COMMITTEE FOR PHILIPPINE CONCERNS (TCPC) Press Statement 15 February 2011
Reference: Hsiao-Chuan Hsia (Chairperson of TCPC) Contact No.: 886-930052381
Stop using migrants as sacrificial lambs!
The Philippine government must prioritize its own people in Taiwan over the issue of Diplomacy
The Taiwan Committee for Philippine Concerns (TCPC) is very much concerned about how the Philippine government is treating its own people here in Taiwan as it aims to patch the diplomatic issues with China.
TCPC finds the deportation by the Philippines of 14 Taiwanese nationals to Mainland China condemnable because the Philippine government salvages its diplomatic relations with China at the expense of its own people working in Taiwan.
The TCPC, a network of individuals from different sectors (i.e. labor, indigenous people, academe, students and marriage migrants) in Taiwan concerned with Philippine issues, would like to remind Philippine President Benigno Aquino III that the Filipinos who are working in countries like Taiwan are the “lifeblood” of the Philippine economy. TCPC urges the Philippine government prioritize its own people in Taiwan over the issue of diplomacy.
It has been known publicly that Philippine diplomacy will only benefit those who hold positions in the government. This is somewhat reminiscent of the ZTE scandal that the previous Philippine government was involved in.
On the other hand, we deplore those people in Taiwan who demand the freeze-hiring of Filipino migrants as a retaliatory move to the Philippine government’s diplomatic backlash. These people in Taiwan must open their eyes on how migrant workers are helping to develop our economy and provide care to our elderly and ill family members. It is hypocritical and unwise for them to use migrants as sacrificial lambs.
We in TCPC are witnesses to the continuing abuse and exploitation experienced by Filipinos and other migrants in Taiwan. Despite the efforts of civil society organizations and migrant service providers to protect the rights of migrants in Taiwan, they will not be enough as long as the sending governments such as the Philippines continue to put more weight on political diplomacy rather than ensure the protection of their own people abroad such as those working here in Taiwan.
We believe that political diplomacy can be more beneficial if the concerns of their countrymen are put in the forefront.
Lastly, we call on the people of the Philippines and Taiwan not to be divided and instead continue to develop stronger people to people cooperation and solidarity.
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