GABRIELA USA Condemns the deportation of Marikit Saturay
March 18, 2024
GABRIELA USA condemns the recent deportation of Filipina youth activist, Marikit Saturay, from the Philippines. Marikit is a renowned artist and member of MIGRANTE Netherlands, who uses her skills and talent to uplift the struggles of migrant workers and families. She and her family sought asylum in the Netherlands in 2006 after their lives were threatened during a terror campaign against environmental activists in the Mindoro region. Marikit had planned to be in the Philippines to celebrate her grandmother’s 100th birthday this month, which was interrupted when airport officials detained her in Manila on March 7th. The Philippine government’s use of blacklisting human rights defenders is a blatant attack on democratic freedoms.
Overseas Filipino workers should be able to travel freely to visit family in the Philippines. they shouldn’t need to be separated at all. Similarly, Anakbayan Switzerland Chairperson Edna Becher, was deported only three months ago when attempting to visit. Both were accused of engaging in “anti-government” activities - when in reality, their names were flagged because of their efforts in educating, organizing and mobilizing people for genuine social change.
March 17th marks the death anniversary of Flor Contemplacion, who was a migrant worker that was wrongfully accused of murder in Singapore. Her case sparked the international movement to support overseas Filipino workers and In 1996 Migrante international held its founding congress to advance the fight for the rights of OFWs and expose the failure of the Philippine government in addressing the abuses suffered by the people who live abroad.
“The irony of detaining Marikit during International Women’s Month, while men from the rich elite like Marcos, Duterte and Quiboloy are able to travel freely throughout the globe unscathed from international humanitarian law, shows the government’s complete disregard of women’s rights and freedoms.” states Pyxie Castillo from GAB USA “This sets a concerning backdrop for political dissent in the Philippines and exposes the increasingly fascist character of the US-Marcos regime. GABRIELA leaders are no stranger to this form of repression. This attack on women’s rights defenders only emboldens us to further strengthen the people’s movement against these tactics.”
We assert that Marikit has done nothing wrong in the eyes of the majority of the Filipino people. Her work and activism is part of the larger movement for a just society that prioritizes the well being of migrant women, children and families. As we celebrate International Women’s Month, let’s also continue to speak out and boldly organize on behalf of all women’s human rights defenders. HANDS OFF MARIKIT! HANDS OFF WOMEN’S RIGHTS DEFENDERS!
#HANDSOFFMARIKIT!
#HANDSOFFWOMENSRIGHTSDEFENDERS
#ACTIVISMISNOTTERRORISM