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Statement of the Filipino-Canadian Community on the Second Anniversary of the US-led Invasion of Iraq
March 20, 2005
As overseas Filipino workers, women, and youth in Canada, we mark the
second anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, by joining the call
of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) in condemning
U.S. imperialism!
From the militant mass mobilizations in Turkey to the people's struggle
being waged in the streets of Iraq, we stand militantly alongside the
people of the world in calling for heightened resistance against U.S.
imperialism, its accomplices and puppets and to denounce their crimes
of
aggression around the world!
Conditions of the working class in the Philippines, in Canada and
around
the world continue to deteriorate under the intensified attacks of
imperialism.
Without basic industries and under the grip of foreign loans from the
IMF and World Bank, the Philippine economy is in a state of chronic
crisis.
The majority of Filipinos do not make enough to meet their
daily
needs pushing 3,000 Filipinos to leave the Philippines every day to
work
abroad in war-torn countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel.
Bobby Tarongoy is one of those migrants who braved to work in Iraq. He
is now being held hostage by an Iraqi rebel group which has demanded
the
US-Arroyo regime withdraw its support for the US war in Iraq.
The
Arroyo
government arrogantly refuses to withdraw her support for the US war in
Iraq. She cares more for her imperialist master than for the life of
Filipino migrant workers whom she continues to export as "modern
heroes."
The situation of our women toiling under Citizenship and Immigration
Canada's Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)is a glaring example of our
intense exploitation and oppression. For over twenty years now Canada
has brought in hundreds of thousands of women, mostly from the Third
World to live and work in the homes of wealthy Canadians, cooking,
cleaning, and caring for children and the elderly. Working for less
than
minimum wage, some of us even earn a measly $2.00 an hour and
experience
abuse under the live-in conditions.
The Canadian government and economy benefits tremendously from the LCP
at the expense of our women. Instead of listening to the cries of
working class women for a national daycare program the Canadian
government continues to offer wealthy Canadians the option of hiring a
package deal - a domestic worker at a cheap rate! Under the LCP one
class of women are liberated from domestic work at the expense of Third
World women.
Under imperialist globalization Canadian workers face wage rollbacks,
lay offs, contractualization, and instensifying forms of exploitation
and abuse. Cutbacks to social programs under neo-liberal policies hit
immigrant communities the hardest.
With living standards for the working class deteriorating, racism
intensifies.
Immigrant communities from Third World countries become
scapegoats for the worsening crisis -- effectively dividing the working
class from understanding our common enemy. Mao Jomar Lanot, a grade 11
Filipino student was killed on the school grounds of Vancouver's Sir
Charles Secondary just over a year ago as the result of systemic
racism.
Our youth are one of the highest number of high school drop outs as
they
become disillusioned with an inadequate education system which does not
recognize their current realities or include their community's history.
Yet under these worsening conditions our community refuses to remain
silent. As overseas Filipinos we stand here today to show our
continuing
commitment to educate, organize, and mobilize our community against our
exploitation and oppression.
As we fight against our own exploitation and oppression in Canada, we
join with the working class and other progressive forces in Canada and
with the people of the world to build a united movement against
imperialist war and plunder.
On the second anniversary of the US-led
invasion of Iraq, we stand with all workers and oppressed people of the
world and declare our continued commitment to heighten our resistance
against imperialist globalization!
US out of Iraq, out of the Philippines and everywhere!
Victory to the Iraqi and Filipino people's struggle for national
liberation!
Scrap the Live-in Caregiver Program!
Universal childcare for all!
Workers of the world unite!
Long live international solidarity!
Statement of:
SIKLAB (Filipino Migrants Organization), Vancouver;
Filipino Nurses Support Group, Vancouver;
Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance, Vancouver;
Philippine Women Centre of BC, Vancouver
Philippine Solidarity Group, Toronto;
Philippine Network for Justice and Peace, Toronto;
Philippine Women Centre of Ontario, Toronto;
Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance, Toronto;
Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines,
Ottawa;
Kabataang Montreal, Montreal;
Philippine Workers Support Committee, Montreal;
Centre for Philippine Concerns, Montreal;
PINAY, Montreal;
Manitoba Center for Philippine Concerns, Winnipeg
 
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