10 November 2008

For reference:   Eni Lestari, Chairperson
                           (852) 960814752

Malaysian police seize Nepali migrant leader
Arrest of Tufan is condemnable, shows increased repression vs migrants and advocates - IMA

The International Migrants’ Alliance (IMA) expresses our strongest condemnation of the arbitrary arrest of Ramesh Tufan, International Coordinating Body (ICB) member of the IMA and chief of the department of foreign affairs of the Nepal Labour Organization, an active affiliate of the IMA. We demand his immediate and unconditional release.

According to reports, Tufan was arrested by the Malaysian police upon his arrival at the Malaysian airport after attending the International Assembly for Migrants and Refugees (IAMR) in Manila, Philippines and the various protest actions mounted to confront the recently-held second Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD).

The arrest of Mr. Tufan is highly-questionable and bespeaks of the evident growing repression against known migrant leaders as well as advocates of the rights of migrants. This arbitrary act of repression and intimidation is a clear and concrete violation of the rights of Tufan.

The Malaysian government has long been known for repressive actions against migrants and advocates. Tens of thousands of undocumented have already suffered from the violent crackdown operations the government has repeatedly conducted. Meanwhile, Dr. Irene Fernandez, known defender of migrant’s rights, still faces prosecution as her appeal is now being heard in the High Court.

Elsewhere, cases like the arrest of activist for migrants Victor Toro in the United States and the deportation of Gil Lebria, a leader of Filipino migrants in Kuwait, prove that repression against foreign workers is on the rise.

These repressive moves are brought about by the intensifying actions of grassroots migrants to confront head-on the issues that have perpetuated the commodification of migrants and the grave condition we suffer as workers.

The recent global resistance against the GFMD and its agenda – where the IMA and its grassroots member groups in various countries figured prominently – has shown that the progressive movement of migrants is on the rise. Repression of civil and political rights of migrants and advocates serves no interest other than weakening the opposition to blatantly anti-migrant moves such as the GFMD and its design on migration and migrants.

The harassment and prosecution of migrants and advocates must stop.

We are already sold as commodities, exploited as cheap laborers, abused in workplaces, and our legitimate rights as workers violated. The curtailment of our right to organize and protest only further proves the hypocrisy of governments who in the recent GFMD talked about “rights” of migrants.”

The IMA calls on the migrants of the world and supporters to condemn the dastardly arrest of Ramesh Tufan. We shall call for global actions for his release. Also, we shall also continue to advance the call for justice for Dr. Fernandez and other victims of state repression.

In the GFMD protests, grassroots migrants have truly spoken. We shall never be silenced again.#