UCAN Interview
Source : http://www.ucanews.com/2009/09/07/church-boosts-ministry-to-migrants/
PENANG, Malaysia (UCAN) -- With a population of just 28 million, Malaysia is host to more than 2.2 million foreigners from neighboring countries. Variously classified as migrant workers, refugees and trafficked people, they often find life in this prosperous, developing country very hard and full of risks.
Amid reports that employees and the authorities frequently abuse or take advantage of them, the local Church has reaffirmed the importance of its ministry to this group. Recently it established the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerants (ECPCMI). Formed in April with Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing of Melaka-Johor as president, the commission comes under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
At its inaugural meeting April 13-14, the commission also elected Joachim Francis Xavier, 33, as chairperson of a six-member steering committee. Xavier, based in Penang, recently spoke to UCA News on the situation of migrants in Malaysia and some of ECPCMI's plans.
UCA News: How do you define "migrants?"
JOACHIM FRANCIS XAVIER: There are several categories of migrants. The most common are migrant workers, refugees, trafficked persons and stateless persons. The largest groups are migrant workers and refugees. Most migrant workers [in Malaysia] come from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar. The largest recorded number of refugees comes from Myanmar. There are 2.2 million migrant workers in the country, of which 1 million are undocumented. As for refugees, there are about 100,000. Out of this, 44,000 are not registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Why do they come here?
To them, Malaysia is a prosperous country with ample job opportunities. They look on Malaysia as a "greener pasture." However, only a minority of them get what they are looking for. Most of them, usually through their ignorance of the laws and the system here, end up with problems.
What problems do they face here?
There are laws that protect the rights of migrants, but weakness in the system has created a situation in which they are extremely vulnerable to exploitation by employers and government agencies.
The laws and system are just not adequate to protect them. For example, migrant workers are not allowed to form unions. They should be allowed to form unions so that they can come together in solidarity to fight for themselves.
On refugees, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention, therefore refugees here do not have adequate protection. They are subject to raids and arrests. They live in hiding in the jungles or in cramped urban conditions. As they are not recognized [as refugees], they face problems with accommodation, health care and education. Those caught are sent to detention camps where the conditions are very bad. The camps are overcrowded and lack basic amenities. The refugees are also denied access to lawyers.
People trafficking is our latest problem.
Recently, Malaysia was downgraded from tier 2 to 3 by the U.S. State Department for not doing enough to combat trafficking of persons. It seems that trafficking happens rampantly in our country, especially trafficking of Myanmar people. Immigration officers will deport them to the Thai borders and then hand them over to traffickers. After the downgrading, Malaysia took this problem seriously and launched an extensive investigation. As a result, several top-ranking immigration officers were arrested and are now awaiting trial.
Stateless persons are those without nationality or citizenship. There are not many stateless persons in our country, and all of them are found in Sabah and Sarawak [the two eastern Malaysian states, on Borneo Island]. Most of them are said to come from the Philippines. But the Philippines does not recognize them as citizens, nor does Malaysia. Because of this, their children and future children become stateless too.
What are ECPCMI's objectives?
ECPCMI was formed under the authority of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei as a forum for the nine dioceses of Malaysia as well as Singapore archdiocese and Brunei apostolic vicariate to meet and collaborate on migration issues. We have a high number of migrants in these three countries.
The main objectives of ECPCMI are to create awareness on the need for Catholics to respond to the needs of migrants and to state the Church's official position on migration issues. The commission hopes to help increase the capacity and knowledge of those involved in ministries to migrants so that they will be better equipped to respond to migrants in their respective dioceses. ECPCMI will also allow members to network with other NGOs or bodies involved in advocacy work for migrants. Finally, we hope to liaise with the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Persons.
What initial plans does the commission have?
Since its formation in April, the steering committee has met three times to plan activities. I see ECPCMI contributing towards a greater collaboration between all the dioceses, and this will ensure that ultimately migrants and refugees are better served in the three countries under the bishop's conference. We are in the process of coming up with guidelines on ministry to migrants and will help the dioceses in its implementation.
Then, we will make available training and formation programs. A formation program is being planned at the regional level for Dec. 3-6. This will be based on the "Exodus Program," a theological reflection on migration. We hope to see participation from all the 11 dioceses.
PENANG, Malaysia (UCAN) -- With a population of just 28 million, Malaysia is host to more than 2.2 million foreigners from neighboring countries. Variously classified as migrant workers, refugees and trafficked people, they often find life in this prosperous, developing country very hard and full of risks.
Amid reports that employees and the authorities frequently abuse or take advantage of them, the local Church has reaffirmed the importance of its ministry to this group. Recently it established the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerants (ECPCMI). Formed in April with Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing of Melaka-Johor as president, the commission comes under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
At its inaugural meeting April 13-14, the commission also elected Joachim Francis Xavier, 33, as chairperson of a six-member steering committee. Xavier, based in Penang, recently spoke to UCA News on the situation of migrants in Malaysia and some of ECPCMI's plans.
UCA News: How do you define "migrants?"
JOACHIM FRANCIS XAVIER: There are several categories of migrants. The most common are migrant workers, refugees, trafficked persons and stateless persons. The largest groups are migrant workers and refugees. Most migrant workers [in Malaysia] come from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar. The largest recorded number of refugees comes from Myanmar. There are 2.2 million migrant workers in the country, of which 1 million are undocumented. As for refugees, there are about 100,000. Out of this, 44,000 are not registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Why do they come here?
To them, Malaysia is a prosperous country with ample job opportunities. They look on Malaysia as a "greener pasture." However, only a minority of them get what they are looking for. Most of them, usually through their ignorance of the laws and the system here, end up with problems.
What problems do they face here?
There are laws that protect the rights of migrants, but weakness in the system has created a situation in which they are extremely vulnerable to exploitation by employers and government agencies.
The laws and system are just not adequate to protect them. For example, migrant workers are not allowed to form unions. They should be allowed to form unions so that they can come together in solidarity to fight for themselves.
On refugees, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention, therefore refugees here do not have adequate protection. They are subject to raids and arrests. They live in hiding in the jungles or in cramped urban conditions. As they are not recognized [as refugees], they face problems with accommodation, health care and education. Those caught are sent to detention camps where the conditions are very bad. The camps are overcrowded and lack basic amenities. The refugees are also denied access to lawyers.
People trafficking is our latest problem.
Recently, Malaysia was downgraded from tier 2 to 3 by the U.S. State Department for not doing enough to combat trafficking of persons. It seems that trafficking happens rampantly in our country, especially trafficking of Myanmar people. Immigration officers will deport them to the Thai borders and then hand them over to traffickers. After the downgrading, Malaysia took this problem seriously and launched an extensive investigation. As a result, several top-ranking immigration officers were arrested and are now awaiting trial.
Stateless persons are those without nationality or citizenship. There are not many stateless persons in our country, and all of them are found in Sabah and Sarawak [the two eastern Malaysian states, on Borneo Island]. Most of them are said to come from the Philippines. But the Philippines does not recognize them as citizens, nor does Malaysia. Because of this, their children and future children become stateless too.
What are ECPCMI's objectives?
ECPCMI was formed under the authority of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei as a forum for the nine dioceses of Malaysia as well as Singapore archdiocese and Brunei apostolic vicariate to meet and collaborate on migration issues. We have a high number of migrants in these three countries.
The main objectives of ECPCMI are to create awareness on the need for Catholics to respond to the needs of migrants and to state the Church's official position on migration issues. The commission hopes to help increase the capacity and knowledge of those involved in ministries to migrants so that they will be better equipped to respond to migrants in their respective dioceses. ECPCMI will also allow members to network with other NGOs or bodies involved in advocacy work for migrants. Finally, we hope to liaise with the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Persons.
What initial plans does the commission have?
Since its formation in April, the steering committee has met three times to plan activities. I see ECPCMI contributing towards a greater collaboration between all the dioceses, and this will ensure that ultimately migrants and refugees are better served in the three countries under the bishop's conference. We are in the process of coming up with guidelines on ministry to migrants and will help the dioceses in its implementation.
Then, we will make available training and formation programs. A formation program is being planned at the regional level for Dec. 3-6. This will be based on the "Exodus Program," a theological reflection on migration. We hope to see participation from all the 11 dioceses.
After going through this article I have decided to bookmark this site found this really interesting & thanks a lot for keeping the blog Lively with such interesting blogs.
ReplyDelete------------------------------
Journey2Thai