Welcome to BASE21

Dear Mr. President:

Greetings!

We are writing this letter to raise our concern on what we view is an impending crackdown on undocumented workers and the massive suppression of their rights.

We believe that the "Voluntary Reporting Program for Unauthorized Foreigners" is a dangerous trap that would imperil the rights of undocumented workers. There is growing apprehension that! the VPRUF will only be used to systematically hunt down undocumented workers, arrest and deport them. This impending crackdown is not the most socially just solution to the problems of undocumented workers.

We are also very alarmed with reports of heightening harassments and threats against those who are opposing this scheme.

The Equality Trade Union, the Migrant Branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) reported that your government recently formed an Inter-Agency Cooperation Committee (IACC) composed of the Police, Immigration Department and the National Intelligence Agency to ensure the implementation of the VRPUF and to arrest and deport any protesting migrants.

Mr. President, we believe that this is an attempt to suppress the freedom of statement and assembly of migrant workers in South Korea and if pursued, this policy is a clear violation of basic human rights. We hope you will remember the time that your personal libert! y and rights were curtailed.

Furthermore, given the fact that migrant workers contributed a lot in shaping the economy of South Korea for years especially at the time of economic recession, migrant workers do not deserve to be treated as criminals.

We call on your government to:

(1) Withdraw the VPRUF and look for alternative and socially just solutions to problems of undocumented workers;
(2) Immediately cease harassments and threats toward migrant organizers and participants of protests against the VRPUF;
(3) Desist from arresting protesting migrants; and
(4) Implement a general amnesty program and recognize the rights of migrant workers in South Korea.

We hope for your immediate and timely action in this regard. We remain,

Sincerely,

(Pls sign your name and organization)

PETITION SIGNATORIES

Individual/Organization

Hong Kong
Abra Tingguian-Ilocano Society (ATIS)
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
Asia Monitor Resource Center (AMRC)
Asian Students Association (ASA)
Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers (ATKI) in Hong Kong
Association of Sri Lankans (ASL) in Hong Kong
Association of Concerned Filipinos (ACFIL) in Hong Kong
Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge
*Bro. William Ng, OFM-JPIC
*Bruce Van Voorhis, Human Rights Advocate
Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM)
Far East Overseas Nepali Association (FEONA)
Filipino Friends in Hongkong
Friends of Thais (FOT) in Hong Kong
Friends of Bethune House (FBH)
*Fr. Emil Lim, SVD
Hong Kong Women Workers Association
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee (HKCIC)
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of S.V.D. Philippines - Northern Province
*John P Holt, BA (Hons) Legal Cost Consultant
*Dr. John F. Thorne, Anthropologist & Visiting professor, Dept of Sociology, The University of HK
Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (MFMW)
Mindanao Federation
Pinatud A Saleng ti Umili (PSU)
Thai Northern Association, Hong Kong
United Pangasinan Hong Kong
United Filipinos in Hong Kong (an alliance of 21 Filipino organizations)
Macau
Macau Cordillera Association (MCA)
Europe
MIGRANTE-Europe, Netherlands
Switzerland Migrants Rights International (MRI), Geneva
The Netherlands: TIYE International,
Umbrella Organisation for Black, Migrant & Refugee Women,
Italy: Audrey Vreugd
*Manfred Bergmann, Roman Migrant Social Forum, Italy
Belgium December 18, Myriam De Feyter, Merelbeke, Belgium
Austria*Birgit Weyss, Austria
Middle East
*Freda Editha O. Contreras, Kuwait
*Edgar Cadano, Kapatiran ng Gitnang Silangan (KGS Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
*Alfredo J. Ganapin, eLagda-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
*Ronnie O. Abeto, Sr., eLagdaRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
*Mike C. Bolos, eLagdaRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
*Rafael M. de la Cruz, eLagdaRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
*Jojo Florendo, eLagda, United Arab Emirates
Lakas ng Manggagawa sa Silangan Probinsiya (LMSP) Saudi Arabia

Taiwan
*Ching Ju, Wu - Taiwan
*Liza de Silva, Taiwan
*Lennon Ying-Dah Wong, migrant volunteer, Taiwan
*Hong Jia-ning, Taiwan
*Hsiao-Chuan Hsia, Assistant Professor, School for Social Transformation Studies,Shih Hsin University, Taipei, Taiwan
*Lorna Kung (Taiwan International Workers Association)
*TonnySirsmieer (Foreign Workers Counseling Center, Taiwan)
*Yentam Ho (Committe for Action for Labor Legislation; Information Center for Labor Education)
China
*Jory Porquia - Filipino Association in Beijing, China
Singapore
Ilonggo Group-Singapore
Bangladesh
Welfare Association of Repatrieted
SYED SAIFUL HAQUE, Executive vice Chairman WARBE, BANGLADESH,
Bangladeshi Employess (WARBE)
Joachim Victor Gomes, Coordinator Population Council

Mongolia; Zanaa J.
Regional member of the APWLD and TF member on Labor and Migration.
CEDAW Watch Network Center, a member of the regional Council of the Asia pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD).

THAILAND
Vani, Asia pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD).

NEPAL
Umesh Upadhyaya, GEFONT Chief, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) is a Confederation of 15 National Federations

USA
Korean Solidarity Committee (KSC), based in Oakland, California,
Network in Solidarity with the People of the Philippines (NISPOP), New York, NY
*Ligaya Lindio-McGovern,Ph.D., USA
GABRIELA Network-Chicago, USA
*Domingo J. Litong, Texas-USA
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, USA
Filipino Civil Right Advocates (FilCRA), USA
Filipinos for Affirmative Action, USA

Canada
OCAP: Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
John Clarke, Organizer, OCAP
Stefan Pilipa, OCAP
SIKLAB, Filipino Women's Organization, Vancouver, CANADA
Montreal Coalition of Filipino Students, Montreal, Quebec
*Rachel MacDonald, Regina, Canada.
PINAY (Filipino Women's Organization in Quebec, Canada)
*Cynthia Espesor, Ilonggo Group-Vancouver Canada
*Marie Boti, Productions Multi-Monde Inc., Montreal, Canada
Connie C. Sorio - Migrante Toronto
Student Christian Movement of Canada

New Zealand
Philippine Resource Centre, New Zealand
Philippine Migrant Centre-New Zealand
Australia
*Christie Rivera, GABRIELA Australia

Malaysia
CARAM Asia

Philippines
The International League of Peoples's Struggle-Philippine Committee
Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)
College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)
GABRIELA, National Alliance of Women's Organisations in the Philippines
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance, an alliance of 18 sectoral organizations and 15 territorial chapters nationwide in the Philippines)
Migrante International (Global Alliance of 81 Filipino migrant organizations)
Kalipunan ng mga Migranteng Pilipino at Pamilya (KMPP)
Kabataan ng mga Migrante para sa Bayan (KAMiYAN)
Worldwide Alliance for the Rights of Migrants (WARM)
Seafarers Organizing Committee-Migrante International
International Migrant Resource Center (IMRC)
*Rev. Fr. Jose P.Dizon, Executive Director, Workers Assistance Center (WAC)
Workers Assistance Center, Inc.
Emmanuel Asuncion, chairperson of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission of S.V.D. Philippines, Northern Province
Stude nt Christian Movement

Other Countries
Ala Mindicanu, National Council of Women, Republic of Moldova
International Center for the Human Rigths of Migrants (CIDEHUM)-Costa Rica
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, Argentina