AN APPEAL TO TAIWANESE AND PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

AN APPEAL TO TAIWANESE AND PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT

The Ugnayan ng Manggagawang Migrante Tungo sa Pag-unlad (UMANGAT), Rome appeals to the Manila and Taipei governments to immediately resolve diplomatically the conflict that arose from the May 9 killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

We deem that while anger in Taiwan over the action of the Philippine government may be justified, the Taiwanese government should also be responsible for protecting the Filipino migrant workers residing on the island, and strongly apprehend the mob-actions against the Filipino workers who are, evidently, have nothing to do with the untoward incident. No  physical attack or any act of racist discrimination should be committed or condoned.

We strongly urge Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou to strengthen protection for Filipino migrants and alert its respective agencies in extending support to anyone, especially those Filipino migrants who would be victims of any untoward incident. The Filipino migrants in Taiwan do not only contribute to the welfare of their loved ones and families back home. They too contribute to the economy of Taiwan as decent labor forces. We also warn the Taiwanese government for closing the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, which acts as the Philippines’ de facto embassy on the island. Withdrawing the MECO from Taiwan would only put the Filipino migrant workers in “grave danger.”

We likewise appeal to the Philippine government to exert all efforts in resolving the problem in the most rational manner mutually acceptable by both countries involved to iron harmony and  peace.