]]> http://inwent-iij-lab.org/Weblog/2011/12/15/gender-equality-world-report-show-women-capture-40-per-cent-of-labour-force/feed/ 5 http://inwent-iij-lab.org/Weblog/2011/11/20/exiled-dreams-stories-of-sri-lankan-refugees-in-bangkok/ http://inwent-iij-lab.org/Weblog/2011/11/20/exiled-dreams-stories-of-sri-lankan-refugees-in-bangkok/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 09:57:50 +0000 Avigail Olarte, Philippines http://inwent-iij-lab.org/Weblog/?p=8263

News of the Sri Lankan court sentencing ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka to jail and him denying the charge of implicating the government in war crimes is proof that the country is not ready to own up to the alleged atrocities committed during the 26-year civil war against the Tamil Tigers. In the meantime, Sri Lankan urban refugees who fled to Bangkok struggle to survive in what they say is an “unfriendly” city.

Like thieves, they came for her in the middle of the night. Barging into the front door, Tamil Tigers soldiers sternly handed out the letter, demanding one recruit from the family. Sathi was 17 and the only daughter. Her father, a rich man from Vavunia, yielded on one condition: She will never engage in combat.

It was the early ‘90s and terror and blood spilled on the streets of Sri Lanka. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) had been waging a war for years, wanting a homeland for its own.

At a young age as an intelligence officer, the innocent-looking Sathi, with a tiny frame and soft curls, secretly collected and passed on information, spied on friends and neighbours, and smuggled in money and guns.

Until Sri Lankan police arrested her one night at a train station in Colombo. She carried with her a “package”, a .45 pistol hidden inside a book wrapped as a gift. They took her, and there in the confines of the prison, she was brutally tortured and raped.

For months they kept her naked, alone in a cell, her hands and feet handcuffed. It would take two years before Sathi could be smuggled out of prison, by jail officials her father had bribed, and placed on a flight out to Russia. It was a life she swore she would never wish to relive nor return to.

Sathi, now 35, is but one of the many Sri Lankans who had escaped from an abusive regime. Like her, Tamils fled from the war-torn country, seeking a new, peaceful life elsewhere. Many of them are single mothers—women “half-widowed” for having husbands who had disappeared—who come to countries like Thailand along with their children.

Resigned to being labelled as “refugees” or “asylum seekers”, the lucky ones like Sathi arrived here as tourists, while the others were smuggled in through borders in trucks and container vessels. They came, blindly and with poor English-speaking skills, and were yet again forced into a life of hiding, fearing arrests.

For Sathi and other women, the operative word was to stay “anonymous” or “invisible” especially in a country like Thailand wherein refugees are considered illegals, despite the government’s acquiescence to providing asylum to thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries. Thailand has refused to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention that would provide people like Sathi protection and legal status.

Tamil refugees come to Thailand fearing persecution in post-war Sri Lanka.

In Bangkok, in fact, Sri Lankans have consistently topped the list of the most number of urban refugees for years. The figures increased in 2009, the year the 26-year civil war ended in Sri Lanka with the defeat of the Tigers. Thousands were displaced and those who had affiliations with the LTTE fled.

As of October 2011, the Jesuit Refugee Service said 292 Sri Lankans were registered as refugees and 196 were classified as asylum seekers, or those awaiting for approval to refugee status.

“We’ve been here for years but Thailand has not opened its doors to us,” said Sathi.

On their own

Every Sunday, a group of women would gather together after worship in Lumphini Park. Sathi, the only single woman in the group of 10, would encourage the single mothers to share and talk about how they’re coping.

Like many of the Sri Lankans in Bangkok, single mothers like Puzpha live their daily lives within the tiny confines of their “home”, a small apartment with no rooms, one bed and sparse furnishing. For years, they continue to survive with little food, no money, and no hope of ever hearing from their husbands again.

“My children would beg, ‘Why can’t we go back to Sri Lanka? Why are we suffering here?’” shared Puzpha, a 33-year-old mother of four, who left Vavunia when her husband, an LTTE sympathiser, had gone missing for the second time.

Having lived in Bangkok since 2009, Puzpha makes do with the food she gets for free from churches and aid agencies. Sometimes, if she’s lucky, she can get two kilos of rice, a bottle of oil and a box of milk from a church on Sukhumvit Soi 10.

Her kids, along with hundreds of other young refugees, get two noodle packs from the Bangkok Refugee Centre, where kids of asylum seekers are allowed to attend classes once a week.

“My children can’t go to school, they do not have books, they can’t even go out the street to play,” she lamented.

The kids of another mother go through worse. In a fit of desperation, she would beat her children, a behaviour said to be expected from people under dire conditions. Last month, the mother of five tried to end it all by downing some pills and locking herself in the bathroom.

It was the day she got word from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—the UN refugee agency tasked to protect and support refugees in any country—that her application for refugee status had been denied. The agonising wait of two years had been for nothing, she said, and worse, UN asked her to go home to Sri Lanka as, they said, it is now safe to live there, with peace having been restored.

No end in sight

But like Sathi and Puzpha, many insist threats remain for people who were once LTTE supporters. Even with the end of the emergency rule imposed for years, anyone with LTTE connections could still be subjected to threats, arrests and even detention, the Sri Lankans in Bangkok claimed.

Recently, there was news that the Sri Lankan government is considering enacting new laws under the Prevention Terrorism Act, the very law that allowed the Sri Lankan police and military to commit atrocities.

The proposed measure will supposedly deal with “possible future and past activities” of the LTTE.

As it is, so-called intelligence assets have confirmed that the Tigers are reorganising themselves in networks overseas.

The Island newspaper in Sri Lanka has recently reported: “Cells of the Tigers are allegedly present in France, Great Britain, Norway and several Asian countries….The Sri Lankan leaders fear there might be a trap: the revival of the war in the north of the island, some day.”

Such news is of course not helping the likes of Sathi and Puzpha. This would only result into further tightening of regulations, especially in already unfriendly states like Thailand.

In June, five Sri Lanka refugees and eight asylum seekers including eight children were arrested. Sources said the Thai government might be under pressure from governments overseas after a vessel carrying 84 Sri Lankan asylum seekers from Thailand were intercepted in Indonesia en route to Canada.

“For now, all we can do is wait and pray for the day that we will be granted refugee status and live a normal life in another country,” Sathi said. “We dream of nothing but peace.”

(Published by AsiaNews, the magazine of Asia News Network)

She made these remarks at a fund raising dinner over the weekend at the Light House Hotel. She went on to say that she has put measures in place to ensure that Stella Bangura gets first class hospitality in the Gambia for the Miss West Africa Pageant. She maintained that Stella Bangura has the potential to bring the crown home as Pageant is not all about beauty but speaking as well. “My Ministry and Government are strongly behind her,” she said.

She boasted that Sierra Leone has been turning heads in the world of beauty referring to a Sierra Leonean born Natasha Beckley who she said ranked among the 10 beauties in the world a feat that has which made her to win lots of  international contracts.

“Tourism industry needs publicity like this, to tell the world that Sierra Leone is open for business. We want to compete in all aspects in the world,” she pointed.

She called on all well meaning Sierra Leoneans to give their support to Ms. Bangura in any little way  “Sierra Leoneans are not used to giving. We are just practicing. It is only now that I am trying to get a policy for government to invest in those that have talents and in so doing we will be able to show case the country.”

Ms. Stella Bangura while expressing appreciation to those that supported her in diverse ways said “You should not only believe in me but you should also believe in Sierra Leone so that we can rise again.”

She said she thanked God Almighty for giving her the avenue and platform to fight for what she believes in that is why she is so passionate. She said she does not only want to make an impact not only in Sierra Leone but wants to tell the world what Sierra Leone is all about.”

She described breast cancer which is her campaign as a dear thing to her because she lost her grand mother through that. Breast Cancer is real, it is killing people. I know what I have to show case. The crown is coming back to Sierra Leone. It is not about me, it is about my country,” she said.

For Verma,  this is the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Like the majority of the Teduray tribe, she was born in Maguindanao but had to move to Sultan Kudarat in 1997 following the conflicts in the province.

“This is the first time in my life to have a real identification,” she said.

Born in one of the poorest regions in the Philippines, Verma wanted to give a better life to her seven children. But she is often denied a job, almost rejected admission to school and has been asked countless of time to prove her identity.

Now, Verma is the first recipient of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees-funded program that aims to provide, before the year ends, some 60,000 free birth certificates to people in Mindanao including indigenous people affected by decades-long conflict in the area. The UNHCR began the program last month.

In South Upi, where Verma received her birth certificate, the international agency aims to help 3,500 people get their birth certificates. According to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Tedurai population is estimated to be at 67, 745.

Bernard Kerblat, UNHCR’s representative in the Philippines, stressed the importance of having a birth certificate among marginalized communities to assert their rights.

“It also prevents them from becoming stateless. That is why this is a critical initiative for all of us,” he said.

Government agencies like the Department of Social Work and Development, Civil Registrar’s Office and the Office of the Southern Cultural Communities (OSCC) also helped out in the project. The OSCC is also part of the team that registered traditional marriages.

In the Philippines, a birth certificate is perhaps the most important document about one’s identity. This is the basic requirement for all other Ids provided by the government .  In Metro Manila, a copy of the birth certificate usually costs between 150 to 500 pesos depending on whether it was secured personally or delivered by mail.

Verma plans to use the birth certificate to get a new lease on her life.

“I now feel a connection with the government. Back then, everything felt uncertain,” she said.

According to Amnesty International’s Health Policy Coordinator, Rajat Khosla, the organization has been campaigning since 2009 to ensure that women and girls living in Sierra Leone are able to realize their maternal health and sexual and reproductive rights.

However, according to a release from the human rights watchdog yesterday, gaps continue to persist in the implementation of the initiative and much remains to be done. It says it welcomes the positive feedback received from the Ministry of Health on this report and is working with the government and other local partners to ensure that the Free Healthcare Initiative is implemented effectively in Sierra Leone in order that pregnant women and girls are able to access the healthcare they need to deliver safely.

Amnesty International’s Africa program director, Erwin van der Borght said: “The health care system remains dysfunctional in many respects. Government figures show that since the introduction of the Initiative, more women are accessing antenatal care and delivering their babies in health facilities. However, many women continue to pay for essential drugs, despite the free health care policy, and women and girls living in poverty continue to have limited access to essential care in pregnancy and childbirth.”

After a 30-hours-journey from Ciudad Juárez to the Global Media Forum in Bonn, Judith Torrea was tired, but still full of energy. (Screenshot from author's video)

Judith, you have been reporting on Ciudad Juárez for 15 years now and even moved there in 2009 – what draw you towards one of the most dangerous cities in the world?
I am a journalist and our duty is to tell the stories that have to be told. If we don’t do that, we become accomplices of war, massacres or genocides like those involved in the so-called „War on Drugs“ led by the Mexican president Felipe Calderón. Once I stepped into this topic I couldn’t just ignore it and go back to Washington as if nothing had happened.

Stepping into it, how did that happen?
Even if I was born in Northern Spain, my heart is purely Mexican, it’s Juárezian. I always wanted to live in Mexico, but finally it all happened by pure coincidence. Fifteen years ago I crossed the Mexican border for the first time and the first city I came across was Ciudad Juárez. At that time the first women were disappearing, and there was nobody else who was reporting on it.

Most bloggers are citizen journalists and activists – when you started blogging, you have already been a highly experienced and awarded journalist. What made you leave your prestigious job as a White House correspondent and become a blogger in Mexico?
Originally, I wanted to work there as a freelance journalist. But then I discovered that in full economic crisis, nobody wanted to buy my stories. But I didn’t want to give up: I published them on a blog instead – not to nourish me, but to lift my spirits. I even renounced on advertisements or collaborations with traditional media, because I want to be as independent as possible. However, I would never have thought that it might become so popular and even receive the prestigious BOB Awards. Just consider how technically simple it looks. Perhaps I won’t earn much money with this blog, but it makes me happy. In times like those Juárez is going through, it is essential that people rise their voices, that they talk or write about what they are experiencing. I also teach citizen journalists in Juárez – my “pupils” are common people, but they tell some stories better than me.

You have been the first Spanish reporter to witness and report about death penalty executions in the US – another dark topic. Are you fascinated by the proximity of death?
In no way! I am a very happy person who loves life. But Juárez is my mission. Nobody asks to be born in a certain place at a certain time. If I don’t tell the story of Juárez, the winners of this „War on Drugs“ will tell it. What keeps me here is my passion and my love for this city. I am fascinated by the mothers of the murdered girls who succeed in transforming adversities into strength. Ciudad Juárez taught me to live.

What was your impression of Juárez when you entered the city for the first time? Was it love at first sight?
The city is neither fascinating nor beautiful. But when you cross the bridge across the US-Mexican border into Juárez, you immediately feel the energy of this town. It’s a women’s city: While many men are unemployed, women have for decades worked in the export oriented assembly plants, the maquilas. Their strong position causes jealousy in the city’s macho culture.

“Hours go by. The fear. She doesn't come back. Days go by. Years.” – Many mothers are still waiting for their daughters to come back, years after their disappearance. Judith Torrea blogs about forbidden activism, ghost towns and the power of memory (Screenshot of Torrea's blog)

Since 1993 hundreds or thousands of young women have been murdered in Juárez; many locals even speak of 5.000 cases. You said that the first media reports came extremely late – how does the Mexican press react?
Absurdly the first newspaper that reported on it was the New York Times. The Mexican press even claimed that the people of Juárez invented these stories, following the discourse of president Felipe Calderón. Mexican media is mainly concentrated in two outlets tightly related to the government. Today mainstream media can’t ignore the feminicidios any longer, but instead of analyzing the reasons for it, they show gruesome pictures of the victims and indirectly blame them for provoking these violent acts by dressing up or going out.

The city lacks international attention: You are the only foreign journalist living in Juárez – and when you wanted to sell your first freelance stories on Juárez in 2009, the editorial offices weren’t interested. Where does this ignorance come from?
Mexico is not Afghanistan. Many foreign editors don’t consider it an important topic. Furthermore it is a dangerous job; many journalists come with bodyguards and don’t want to sleep in the city, because they don’t want to risk anything. When I was back in New York reading the news about the so-called „War on Drugs“ in Ciudad Juárez, I realized that my perspective differed from that of most journalists: Unlike them, I distrust Calderón when he states that the victims have been related to drug dealing.

Once you accused the Mexican president Felipe Calderón on TV of supporting the Sinaloa Cartel, the most powerful drug cartel in Juárez. Are you not frightened?
The only fear I have is not doing what I have to do. I am a journalist that will never betray herself, that is not corrupt. Neither the Sinaloa Cartel nor Calderón can stop me. As Juárezians, we all share the same danger.

Have you ever been threatened?
The government tries to put me under constant pressure. But I won’t go into details.

What will the future bring for Juárez?
Peace will come soon; the death toll is already dropping. But it won’t be a peace for the love of peace – Calderon’s „War on Drugs“ simply costs too much money. And it will be a false peace: This “War” has left tremendous social problems, hundreds of orphans, empty houses, lots of unemployed and many, many traumatized people.

What will you do when this „War“ is over?
Hard to say – I hardly ever think about the future.

Interview conducted in Spanish and translated into English

Judith Torrea’s blog: www.juarezenlasombra.blogspot.com
Her book: Torrea, Judith: Juárez en la sombra: crónica de una ciudad que se resiste a morir. Aguilar, 2011.

• Ciudad Juárez is a city of 1,5 million inhabitants in Northern Mexico directly bordering the US city El Paso. Due to its location, the city is a major point of entry and transportation into the United States – for migrants and goods as well as for drugs. Juárez attracted several drug cartels by its low-wage work force, the proximity of the lucrative U.S. market and its social disorganization. In the 90ies it became the epicentre of Mexico’s “War on Drugs”; with between 6 and 27 homicides each day it is considered “the most violent zone in the world outside of declared war zones.”

• Judith Torrea is a 37-year-old journalist from Pamplona/ Spain. After working for several US media she decided to dedicate her work to the fight against drug trafficking and the Mexican „War on Drugs“. She was awarded with the Spanish journalist award Premio Ortega y Gasset as well as with Deutsche Welle’s international weblog awards, the BOBs, for her blog “Ciudad Juárez, en la sombre del narcotráfico” (Ciudad Juárez in the shadow of drug trafficking). Based on her blog and long lasting experience she recently published her book “Juárez en la sombra” (Juárez in the shadow).

This interview first appeared in Orange Magazine of the European Youth Press in June 2011 as part of its coverage of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum. E-Mail the author at christina.felschen(a)gmx.de or visit www.chessocampo.blogspot.com.

The De la Cruz siblings were fathered and abandoned by US servicemen in the Philippines.

(First of two articles)

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – There was a hint of embarrassment in Mark Gilbore’s voice as he pointed to the infamous red light district of Angeles City.

It was almost dusk when girls of various shapes and sizes began to pour out onto the streets. Clad in clothes that showed off more skin than fabric, they sashayed on stilettos into the narrow road called “Walking Street,” their glassy smiles intact.

“There,” Mark said as he pointed to a girl wearing a skimpy rodeo outfit outside a bar that was just about to open its neon sign. “She’s like me,” he said, looking away.

The girl, like Mark, is an Amerasian or a child fathered by American servicemen who were stationed in Clark Base in Pampanga, back when the US had its biggest military bases in the Asia Pacific region, here at Subic and Clark. The American bases were opened from 1903 till 1991, when the destructive eruption of nearby Mt. Pinatubo and a historic 12-11 vote by the Philippine Senate finally forced their exit from Philippine shores.  But when the soldiers left, few cared about the children they left behind.

Continue reading here: http://www.interaksyon.com/abandoned

According to FoxNews.com’s entertainment column, “Pop Tarts”, Catalina Robayo, the 22-year old candidate from Colombia, was “reprimanded” by Miss Universe officials after a photo of the candidate, wearing a revealing dress sans panties, appeared in Brazillian newspapers. The pageant will be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil on Tuesday (Manila time).

continue reading here: http://interaksyon.com/article/12916/ms-colombia-goes-commando-miss-universe-reprimands-candidate