[APWSLMembers 81] FW: Thai Workers Action in Kaohsiung ?V A Wake Up Call

[parat Nanakhorn]

>From: ¬hÚ{¬Â <wanling0726 at yahoo.com.tw>
>To: Miao <nanakornp at yahoo.com>, Miao <paratn at hotmail.com>
>Subject: Thai Workers Action in Kaohsiung ¡V A Wake Up Call
>Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 19:11:13 +0800 (CST)
>
>Thai Workers Action in Kaohsiung ¡V A Wake Up Call
>
>
>The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) and Migrante Sectoral Party 
>(MSP) in Taiwan view the Thai workers action in Kaohsiung as a wake up call 
>to the true human rights situation of foreign workers in Taiwan. We 
>sympathize with them and fully understand what they did, given the extreme 
>suppression of their rights and exploitation that they were subjected to. 
>Their situation is not an isolated one.
>
>
>
>At the same time, we implore with the authorities concerned that justice be 
>equally served. We are alarmed that the authorities would want to file 
>charges against the enraged Thais and deport them for the violence that 
>ensued, while they would just ask the broker, Huapan Co. to dismiss its 
>supervisors who treated the workers inhumanely. Are violators of human 
>rights to be treated this way only? This is a crime in itself against 
>humanity.
>
>
>
>Who instigated the violence anyway? Who used an electric prod on a Thai 
>worker just for using his cell phone?  Who banned them from drinking 
>alcohol in their free time and disallowed them to watch Thai television? 
>Who were short-changed when they exchanged their coupons for cash and were 
>getting only NT$3000 to NT$4000 a month? Who benefited when they were not 
>fully paid for their overtime, and could not eat the food served them and 
>had to sleep in cramped places?
>
>
>
>As earlier mentioned, there are similar cases like these. A case in point 
>is the incident that happened in Formosa Plastics in Mailiao, Yun Lin 
>County. Four Filipinos were beaten up, their cell phones stolen and they 
>together with 12 others were illegally terminated and forcibly deported 
>last Aug. 2. This was done in retaliation for their refusal to work with 
>hundreds of others for two days on July 14 and 15 because of similar 
>exploitative and dehumanizing conditions. Should this not be investigated 
>also and the victims provided justice? If the situation in Formosa Plastics 
>is not changed, this could lead to a similar situation like what transpired 
>in Kaohsiung.
>
>
>
>With regards to another job category like caretakers working in nursing 
>homes, hospitals and with individual employers, many of them have no or 
>limited days off.  Isn¡¦t this a human rights violation?
>
>
>
>The Taiwanese authorities and people must reflect on the true situation of 
>blue-collar foreign workers in their midst. They are human beings, not 
>animals nor machines. They will react like any human being for asserting 
>their rights when this is trampled upon. You would do the same, wouldn¡¦t 
>you?
>
>
>
>Uphold the human rights of Thai workers in the Kaohsiung Mass Transit 
>Bureau!
>
>Uphold the human rights of the Filipino and even Thai workers in Formosa 
>Plastics in Yun Lin!
>
>Uphold the human rights of all caretakers in Taiwan!
>
>
>
>August 24, 2004
>
>
>

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