• diary political and General News Events from Feb 2

Nigerian armed separatists holding four foreign oil workers threaten to resume attacks on oil facilities and take more captives, even as authorities try to find five captured Chinese telecoms workers in the volatile Niger Delta.
600 words moved by Ade Obisesan
Somalia-unrest-Ethiopia-US
MOGADISHU
Forces of the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia claim to have control of the last territory held by routed Islamists, while Washington's top African affairs official discusses the lawless country's future with Somali leaders.
700 words moved
afp
Document AFPR000020070108e318000ma

The AFP Asia news agenda
AFP

704 words

7 January 2007

04:03 PM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
HONG KONG, Jan 8, 2007 (AFP) -
Duty editor: Susan Stumme
News desk: + 852 2829 6211
ASIA NEWS HIGHLIGHTS ON MONDAY:
+ Separatists kill 62 in northeast India
+ Day two of Bangladesh vote protests
+ Still no trace of Indonesian jet
GUWAHATI, India: Reporting after suspected separatist rebels kill 62 people in a string of weekend attacks in India's insurgency-racked northeast, prompting New Delhi to offer fresh peace talks (INDIA-NORTHEAST-UNREST)
-- Moving an analysis about the possible motive for the killings in India's Assam state (INDIA-NORTHEAST-UNREST,ANALYSIS)
DHAKA: Reporting on second day of a nationwide transport blockade staged by Bangladesh's opposition to force the government to cancel this month's polls, following violent clashes between protesters and police (BANGLADESH-VOTE-STRIKE)
JAKARTA: Reporting on the continuing hunt for an Indonesian passenger jet with 102 people on board now missing for a week, with US experts to meet local rescuers and a US naval ship set to join the search (INDONESIA-ACCIDENT-AIR)
OTHER NEWS ITEMS:
BANGKOK: Monitoring as Bangkok steps up security after the deadly New Year's Eve blasts, amid warnings of more attacks (THAILAND-ATTACKS-BLAST)
BEIJING: Watching for Chinese reaction to US statement that six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program are set to resume later this month (NKOREA-NUCLEAR-WEAPONS-TALKS)
-- Reporting on visit to China by Segolene Royal, a socialist campaigning to become France's first woman president (CHINA-FRANCE-VOTE-ROYAL)
-- Monitoring further reaction to abduction of five Chinese telecommunications workers in Nigeria (NIGERIA-UNREST-OIL-CHINA)
-- US fast food giant McDonalds holds a presser at 0530 GMT on its joint venture with Chinese petroleum company Sinopec to build drive-through restaurants (CHINA-US-FOOD-COMPANY-MCDONALDS-SINOPEC)
COLOMBO: Monitoring reaction after 17 people were killed and more than 100 hurt in two weekend attacks on packed buses in Sri Lanka (SRILANKA-UNREST)
JAKARTA: Reporting on the continuing search for survivors from a ferry that sank off the central island of Java more than a week ago (INDONESIA-ACCIDENT-SEA)
KABUL: Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay meets Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan (AFGHANISTAN-UNREST-CANADA)
-- Moving a feature about Hainuallah, a Pakistani teenager persuaded by his local preacher to become a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, where he was arrested wearing an explosives-filled vest (AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN-UNREST-SUICIDE)
KATHMANDU: Monitoring developments in Nepal's peace process amid moves to bring Maoist rebels into government (NEPAL-POLITICS)
KUALA LUMPUR: Monitoring the floods crisis in Malaysia, which has claimed 17 lives, as forecasters predict more downpours (MALAYSIA-WEATHER-FLOODS)
MANILA: Moving an advancer ex-CEBU on the ASEAN summit set for this week, amid lingering questions as to why the Philippines government decided to postpone the meeting last month (ASEAN-SUMMIT-PHILIPPINES,ADVANCER)
NEW DELHI: Reporting after Indian police arrest two suspects following the discovery of the bodies of at least 17 children just outside New Delhi (INDIA-CRIME-MURDER-CHILDREN)
-- Reporting on latest developments in takeover battle for the nation's fourth-largest mobile phone group Hutchison Essar (INDIA-HONGKONG-BRITAIN-TELECOM-HUTCHISON)
-- Monitoring as millions of Hindus gather at the Ganges River in the northern city of Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela ritual bathing ceremony (INDIA-RELIGION-FESTIVAL)
-- Moving a feature ahead of the next phase in the bilateral peace process between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which has given hope to people living near the heavily-fortified border (INDIA-PAKISTAN-KASHMIR-PEACE)
SEOUL: Monitoring a labor dispute at Hyundai Motor after the automaker decides to file a damages suit against union leaders over financial losses caused by strikes (SKOREA-AUTO-HYUNDAI)
-- Monitoring as prosecutors await court approval to detain a senior financial watchdog official on alleged corruption charges (SKOREA-FINANCE-CORRUPTION)
SINGAPORE: Reporting on world oil prices in Asian trade (COMMODITIES-ENERGY-ASIA-OIL-PRICE)
-- Covering forum on non-traditional security threats facing Asia, such as avian flu and economic attack (ASIA-SECURITY)
SYDNEY: Tennis. Sydney International tournament (TENNIS-WTA-ATP-AUS)
TAIPEI: Following up on financial crisis at Taiwan's Rebar conglomerate, which has seen several of its subsidiaries file for bankruptcy and debt restructuring (TAIWAN-BANKING)
afp
Document AFPR000020070107e31700af1

AFP 2000 GMT News Advisory
AFP

797 words

7 January 2007

03:32 PM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
PARIS, Jan 7, 2007 (AFP) -
Duty Editor: Marlowe Hood
Tel: [phone]
-- WORLD HEADLINES --
+ Heavy fighting in Mogadishu as Ethiopian troops attacked
+ US military losses officially cross the 3,000 threshold
+ Kidnapped AFP photographer freed by captors in Gaza Strip
+ US Democrats warn no blank check for fresh troops in Iraq
-- TOP STORIES --
Somalia-unrest-Ethiopia-US
MOGADISHU
Forces of the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia claim to have control of the last territory held by routed Islamists, while Washington's top African affairs official discusses the lawless country's future with Somali leaders.
700 words moved
Iraq,3rdlead
BAGHDAD
US military losses in Iraq mount to 3,003, according to latest figures, amid reports that another 20,000 troops are to be rushed to Baghdad to stabilise the violence-wracked capital.
800 words moved by Jay Deshmukh. Picture, graphic.
Mideast-Gaza-media-kidnap,5thlead
GAZA CITY
AFP photographer Jaime Razuri is freed in the Gaza Strip seven days after being abducted by masked gunmen in the latest foreigner kidnapping in the volatile territory.
550 words 2030 GMT. Picture
US-Iraq-Bush,lead
WASHINGTON
Just days after taking control of Congress, Democratic lawmakers warn that President George W. Bush will not get a blank check to expand the number of US troops in violence-wracked Iraq
750 words 2130 GMT by Magan Crane. Picture
-- MIDEAST --
Mideast-unrest-Palestinian,4thlead
GAZA CITY
Supporters of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement stage a mass show of force in a Gaza stadium as a standoff with the ruling Islamist Hamas continues amid fears of a renewed outbreak of deadly factional violence.
700 words moved by Sakher Abu El Oun. Picture.
-- EUROPE --
Poland-religion-Vatican-history-communist,5thlead
WARSAW
The newly-appointed archbishop of Warsaw, Stanislaw Wielgus, resigns over his communist past, triggering loud protests from Catholic parishioners attending what was to have been his formal investiture.
750 words moved by Karin Zeitvogel
We have also moved: Poland-religion-Vatican-history-communist-police
Britain-politics-Brown,2ndlead
LONDON
Britain's finance minister Gordon Brown pledges a new style of government should he take over as prime minister from Tony Blair as expected later this year.
600 words moved
France-politics-vote,lead
PARIS
French President Jacques Chirac's allies close ranks in an apparent bid to undermine his rival and would-be successor Nicolas Sarkozy, the centre-right frontrunner in April's presidential election.
600 words moved by Emma Charlton
Mideast-Israel-Iran-nuclear-politics,3rdlead
LONDON
Israel has drawn up plans to destroy Iranian uranium enrichment facilities with a tactical nuclear strike, a British newspaper says in a report rejected by the Jewish state.
750 words moved
Britain-royals-Diana,lead
LONDON
Preliminary hearings for a long-awaited coroner's inquest into the death of Princess Diana in a Paris car crash are set to get under way in London Monday, with more legal wrangling expected.
650 words 2030 GMT by Phil Hazlewood.
--AFRICA--
Nigeria-unrest-oil-Italy-Lebanon-China
LAGOS
Nigerian armed separatists holding four foreign oil workers threaten to resume attacks on oil facilities and take more captives, even as authorities try to find five captured Chinese telecoms workers in the volatile Niger Delta.
650 words moved by Ade Obisesan
We have also moved: Somalia-unrest-Ethiopia,2ndlead
-- AMERICAS --
US-auto-show,lead
DETROIT, Michigan
The 100th edition of Detroit's world-famous auto show opens with the historic US carmakers vowing to fight back against an Asian invasion.
650 words 2200 GMT by Jitendra Joshi. Picture
US-auto-show-company-Japan-Toyota,lead
DETROIT, Michigan
Toyota may be a champion of Japanese industry but at the Detroit auto show, it is boasting its American credentials just as much as iconic US brands like Ford and Chevrolet.
600 words 2300 GMT by Jitendra Joshi
We have also moved: US-auto-show-company-Ford
US-SKorea-IT-consumer-electronics-show-company-LG,lead
LAS VEGAS, Nevada
South Korea's LG Electronics gives the world a peek at a dual-format DVD player it believes will quell the format war and win the hearts of consumers.
550 words 2100 GMT by Glenn Chapman
-- ASIA --
India-northeast-unrest,4thlead
GUWAHATI, India
Suspected separatist rebels shoot dead seven people in India's northeastern Assam state, taking the weekend death toll to 62, police say, after New Delhi offers to hold new peace talks.
650 words moved by Zarir Hussain. Picture
Bangladesh-politics-vote-blockade,2ndlead
DHAKA
Police fire rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters hurling stones and rocks in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka as a transport blockade aimed at halting January 22 polls erupts into violence.
650 words moved by Shafiq Alam. Picture
afp
Document AFPR000020070107e31700a3x

The 1630 GMT News Advisory
AFP

590 words

7 January 2007

11:39 AM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
HONG KONG, Jan 8, 2007 (AFP) -
Duty Editor: Susan Stumme
News Desk: + 852 2829 6211
-- WORLD HEADLINES --
GUWAHATI: Weekend death toll at 62 in northeast India
DHAKA: Police clash with Bangladesh protesters
BAGHDAD: Three US airmen killed in Iraq
LONDON: Israel plans 'nuclear' strike on Iran: report
-- ASIA --
India-northeast-unrest,4thlead
GUWAHATI, India
Federal soldiers in armoured vehicles patrol India's northeastern Assam state with powers to shoot on sight to enforce a curfew as the death toll from attacks blamed on separatist militants rises to 62.
600 words 1715 GMT by Zarir Hussain. Picture
Bangladesh-politics-vote-blockade,2ndlead
DHAKA
Police fire rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters hurling stones and rocks in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka as a transport blockade aimed at halting January 22 polls erupts into violence.
650 words moved by Shafiq Alam. Picture
China-France-Royal-vote
BEIJING
France's left-wing presidential candidate Segolene Royal calls on China to accept international human rights standards as she tours the Forbidden City in central Beijing on the second day of a three-day visit.
500 words moved
Nigeria-unrest-oil-Italy-Lebanon-China
LAGOS
Nigerian armed separatists holding four foreign oil workers threaten to resume attacks on oil facilities and take more captives, as authorities try to find five captured Chinese telecoms workers in the volatile Niger Delta.
700 words 1630 GMT by Ade Obisesan
-- MIDDLE EAST --
Iraq,2ndlead
BAGHDAD
US military losses in Iraq mount to 3,003, according to latest figures, amid reports that another 20,000 troops are to be rushed to Baghdad to stabilise the violence-wracked capital.
800 words 1645 GMT by Jay Deshmukh. Picture, graphic.
Mideast-Israel-Iran-nuclear-politics,3rdlead
LONDON
Israel has drawn up plans to destroy Iranian uranium enrichment facilities with a tactical nuclear strike, a British newspaper says in a report rejected by the Jewish state.
750 words moved
Mideast-unrest-Palestinian,4thlead
GAZA CITY
Supporters of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement stage a mass show of force in a Gaza stadium as a standoff with the ruling Islamist Hamas continues amid fears of a renewed outbreak of deadly factional violence.
700 words 1730 GMT by Sakher Abu El Oun. Picture.
-- EUROPE --
Poland-religion-Vatican-history-communist,5thlead
WARSAW
The newly-appointed archbishop of Warsaw, Stanislaw Wielgus, resigns over his communist past, triggering loud protests from Catholic parishioners attending what was to have been his formal investiture.
750 words 1645 GMT by Karin Zeitvogel
We will also move: Poland-religion-Vatican-history-communist-police
Iraq-Saddam-justice-Britain,lead
LONDON
British Prime Minister Tony Blair believes the manner of Saddam Hussein's execution was "completely wrong", says his Downing Street office.
700 words moved
Britain-politics-Brown,2ndlead
LONDON
Britain's finance minister Gordon Brown pledges a new style of government should he take over as prime minister from Tony Blair as expected later this year.
600 words 1645 GMT
-- AMERICAS --
US-Iraq-Bush
WASHINGTON
Just days after taking control of Congress, US lawmakers slam the president's expected proposal to flood Iraq with 20,000 more troops as a last ditch effort to secure the violence-racked country.
600 words 1700 GMT by Magan Crane
-- AFRICA --
Somalia-unrest-Ethiopia-US
MOGADISHU
Forces of the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia claim to have control of the last territory held by routed Islamists, while Washington's top African affairs official discusses the lawless country's future with Somali leaders.
700 words 1830 GMT
afp
Document AFPR000020070107e31700923

AFP 1600 GMT News Advisory
AFP

669 words

7 January 2007

10:59 AM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
PARIS, Jan 7, 2007 (AFP) -
Duty Editor: Giles Hewitt
Tel: [phone]
-- WORLD HEADLINES --
+ Polish archbishop resigns in collaboration row
+ US death toll in Iraq passes 3,000 mark
+ Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran: newspaper
+ Fatah holds mass rally in Gaza
-- TOP STORIES --
Poland-religion-Vatican-history-communist,5thlead
WARSAW
The newly-appointed archbishop of Warsaw, Stanislaw Wielgus, resigns over his communist past, triggering loud protests from Catholic parishioners attending what was to have been his formal investiture.
750 words 1630 GMT by Karin Zeitvogel
Iraq,2ndlead
BAGHDAD
US military losses in Iraq mount to 3,003, according to latest figures, amid reports that another 20,000 troops are to be rushed to Baghdad to stabilise the violence-wracked capital.
800 words 1630 GMT by Jay Deshmukh. Picture, graphic.
Mideast-Israel-Iran-nuclear-politics,3rdlead
LONDON
Israel has drawn up plans to destroy Iranian uranium enrichment facilities with a tactical nuclear strike, a British newspaper says in a report rejected by the Jewish state.
750 words moved
Mideast-unrest-Palestinian,4thlead
GAZA CITY
Supporters of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement stage a mass show of force in a Gaza stadium as a standoff with the ruling Islamist Hamas continues amid fears of a renewed outbreak of deadly factional violence.
700 words 1730 GMT by Sakher Abu El Oun. Picture.
-- MIDDLE EAST --
Iraq-Saddam-justice-Britain,lead
LONDON
British Prime Minister Tony Blair believes the manner of Saddam Hussein's execution was "completely wrong", says his Downing Street office.
700 words 1600 GMT
-- EUROPE --
Poland-religion-Vatican-history-communist-police
WARSAW
Seventeen years after the fall of Communism in eastern Europe, secret police files aimed at keeping the lid on any public dissent still hold the power to shatter high-flying careers.
600 words 1800 GMT
Britain-politics-Brown,2ndlead
LONDON
Britain's finance minister Gordon Brown pledges a new style of government should he take over as prime minister from Tony Blair as expected later this year.
600 words 1630 GMT
France-politics-vote,lead
PARIS
French President Jacques Chirac's allies close ranks in an apparent bid to undermine his rival and would-be successor Nicolas Sarkozy, the centre-right frontrunner in April's presidential election.
600 words 1630 GMT by Emma Charlton
-- AMERICAS --
US-Iraq-Bush
WASHINGTON
Just days after taking control of Congress, US lawmakers slam the president's expected proposal to flood Iraq with 20,000 more troops as a last ditch effort to secure the violence-racked country.
600 words 1700 GMT by Magan Crane
US-auto-show
DETROIT, Michigan
The centennial edition of Detroit's world-famous auto show opens with General Motors scoring a rare home run for troubled US carmakers by scooping honors for car and truck of the year.
650 words 1615 GMT by Jitendra Joshi. Picture
-- AFRICA --
Nigeria-unrest-oil-Italy-Lebanon-China
LAGOS
Nigerian armed separatists holding four foreign oil workers threaten to resume attacks on oil facilities and take more captives, even as authorities try to find five captured Chinese telecoms workers in the volatile Niger Delta.
700 words 1630 GMT by Ade Obisesan
Somalia-unrest-Ethiopia-US
MOGADISHU
Forces of the Ethiopian-backed government in Somalia claim to have control of the last territory held by routed Islamists, while Washington's top African affairs official discusses the lawless country's future with Somali leaders.
700 words 1830 GMT
-- ASIA --
China-France-Royal-vote
BEIJING
France's left-wing presidential candidate Segolene Royal calls on China to accept international human rights standards as she tours the Forbidden City in central Beijing on the second day of a three-day visit.
500 words moved
Bangladesh-politics-vote-blockade,2ndlead
DHAKA
Police fire rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of protesters hurling stones and rocks in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka as a transport blockade aimed at halting January 22 polls erupts into violence.
650 words moved by Shafiq Alam. Picture
afp
Document AFPR000020070107e3170091e

The go-to guy in Greece
Joe Valencia Tessa Salazar

1,939 words

6 January 2007

Philippine Daily Inquirer

AIWPHI

English

Copyright 2007 INQ7 Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.inq7.net
ATHENS--Former seaman Fernando Brucelo, 50, tried to squeeze his face out of the prison window to get a glimpse of the sky. But the window was too small. His head throbbing in pain, he cried inside his Greek prison cell.
He thought he would go insane as he agonized over his two sons who would not be able to finish grade school, and his wife whom he suspected of squandering their life savings on things other than their sons' education.
Before setting foot in Greece in 1997, Fernando was at sea for 10 years. After hearing news of ships sinking, he became worried for his own "untimely demise" in an accident at sea. He decided to jump ship in Athens, and shortly after, he worked in a multimillion-euro yacht. A few months later, he was caught without legal documents and sent to jail.
In the pit of desperation, Fernando heard about a Filipino named "Kuya Joe," ("kuya" is eldest brother is Filipino) who seemed to make things happen for compatriots. He called him from prison. Joe Valencia, whom Fernando barely knew, rushed to the immigration office in Athens.
Valencia, who headed the Filipino migrant workers' organization Kasapi-Hellas, mobilized Greek volunteer lawyers. These lawyers, who have known Kasapi for quite some time, turned the wheels of justice in Fernando's favor--all free of charge.
Fernando was granted his legal documents, became self-employed, acquired his own social security policy, and got his old yacht maintenance job back.
Merceditas Canillas, 66, who has been working in Greece for 25 years, recounted how she was forced to quit her job in 1998 in the household of a Greek-American millionaire because her employer kept opening her personal things.
Canillas' employer, however, countered with a complaint accusing her of stealing. Valencia and a Kasapi volunteer lawyer came to her rescue. During the court hearings, it was revealed that her employer just didn't want Canillas to leave her.
Some migrant workers say that though Joe and wife Debbie just have enough to get by, they were able to provide temporary shelter and other financial support when it was needed most.
Valencia was also the go-to guy for those who found themselves in a tight fix. One time, a Filipino woman gave birth in a hospital but didn't have any money to pay the bill. Valencia tried to raise funds but still came up short. After pleading with the hospital, he was able to whisk the mother and child home. There was also the time in Athens when a 25-year-old domestic helper--a former high school teacher--asked for Valencia's help because she said she was being maltreated and her passport was being held by her employer.
Support whenever
It is these kinds of legal entanglements that Valencia is said to make his presence most felt--when Filipinos are being short-changed in their salaries; when passports are being held by employers without valid reasons; or when Filipino women are sexually harassed and maltreated.
Yvette Sanchez, 38, who has been working for 16 years in Greece and is a full-time reporter for Balita newspaper, dared even to say that Valencia and his Kasapi-Hellas have been able to help Filipino workers more than the Philippine Embassy has.
"Kuya Joe even assists Filipinos who die in Greece. He helps send their remains back home to the Philippines," Sanchez said.
"Filipino workers who fall sick and are confined in hospitals but do not have the money to pay the bills because the employer did not give any financial assistance; Kuya Joe finds a way for these people," said Canillas, who is also the president of Filipino women's organization Diwata.
Canillas added that membership fees collected from the 1,300 Kasapi members are used to help Filipinos in need, whether they may be Kasapi members or not. Kasapi-Hellas, an organization of Filipino migrant workers registered under the Greek government, also conducts occasional fund-raising activities for cause-oriented projects.
Popular in Europe
Nestor Villanueva, 46, who has been employed in Greece for 16 years as a driver, gardener and painter, said that Valencia is popular not only in Greece but in the whole of Europe because of his zeal in fighting for migrant rights.
"Many Filipinos here run to Kuya Joe first before going to the Philippine Embassy. This is nothing against the embassy. It just happened this way," said Villanueva.
Valencia himself was reluctant at first to be interviewed by the Inquirer but later obliged under the condition that the issues he has been raising for 16 years be discussed. Low-key and soft-spoken, Kuya Joe has an office at Balita, where he's also an editor.
Balita is published by the International Media Network, which subsidizes the paper in support of Filipino migrants. It also subsidizes six other newspapers from Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Albania and Poland. Balita accounts for the smallest circulation (at 4,000 copies a week) versus the Albanian newspaper (128,000 copies a week). Valencia estimates there are almost a million Albanians in Greece.
Who is 'Kuya Joe?'
Following Valencia around in a typical hectic day, one would guess Filipinos in Greece would number just as many. But in reality, Greece hosts just about 50,000 to 70,000 Filipino migrant workers, 70 percent of whom are employed as house assistants to upper-class Athenians. Philippine Ambassador to Greece Rigoberto Tiglao said in an e-mail that underestimated would be the number of Filipino seamen and small entrepreneurs.
Filipinos describe Greeks as "feisty," and in a way, Valencia has acquired this trait, and has channeled this to help fellow Filipinos.
At 64, Valencia could be seen shuttling from one radio show to the next, or driving back to Kasapi-Hellas headquarters.
He runs two radio programs, one of which is Radio Kaibigan or Radio Filias in Greece. It is broadcast in the main state AM radio, reaching the islands of Greece, and is the premier public communication medium of the Greek state.
Radio Kaibigan's air time--granted by a Greek broadcasting company for free in recognition and support of Filipinos and Kasapi--airs one hour a week. Radio Kaibigan celebrated its fourth anniversary on November. The other program, "Athens International Radio: 30-Minute Bulletin," is broadcast in Taglish over the municipal FM radio band of Athens.
Protection from loan sharks
Valencia's wife Debbie, on the other hand, founded Munting Nayon, a multicultural school in Greece.
In a phone interview with the Inquirer, Mother Mary John Mananzan, prioress of St. Scholastica's College in Manila, confirmed that she had visited Joe and Debbie in Athens several years ago and sent an administrator to guide the Munting Nayon curricula for three years.
The eight-year-old Filipino women's organization in Greece--Diwata--is a spin-off of Kasapi founded by Debbie and Canillas, among other Filipino women.
Canillas, who also does volunteer work in her free time feeding refugees from China, Africa and Nigeria, among others, said Diwata is not only a cooperative but a group that pushes for women's rights and freedom from the repressive "5-6" loan system. Canillas said that as much as 30,000 women can acquire loans from Diwata.
Valencia described Diwata as the only organization of women that has vibrant loans and savings cooperative helping free women from being victimized by loan sharks, or by fellow Filipinos who lend money at 20-percent interest.
Valencia stressed that for over 16 years, his group has been lobbying for the legalization of unrecorded migrants in Greece and a bilateral social security agreement between the Philippine government and the Greek state, among other issues. His passion for these issues has earned him detractors who accused him of being a former priest who turned into a National Democratic Front member.
He said that his life in Greece was an open book. Since he was not a government official who should undergo public scrutiny, what detractors should focus on instead, he said, were issues hounding OFWs that included human smuggling, loan sharks, undocumented jobless youth, unwanted pregnancies and teenage mothers, and shabu trafficking.
Valencia said that the big number of undocumented migrants in Greece could be traced to the illegal recruiters with fake contracts under Law 89 (passed in 1967 to attract foreign investors to set up off-shore companies). Under Law 89, these companies were able to bring non-Greeks to work in their offices.
"But there are always people who are out to make easy and fast money. So from the legitimate off-shore companies, some 'enterprising' individuals created illegitimate off-shore companies solely for the purpose of recruiting people. Thus, hundreds of Pinoys entered Greece this way, with Filipino recruiters as their agents. And you know how much they charge each person to pay to get in to Greece? 7,000-8,000 euros!" Kuya Joe exclaimed.
Embassy alerts
In an e-mail to the Inquirer, Tiglao said that the embassy, especially its labor arm, the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, "has been quite aggressive in clamping down--to the extent of its authority--on such Filipino recruiters here in Athens."
Tiglao said they have all the records on the alerts they raised against such swindlers. He related how only two months ago, they raised the alarm against a lady who had victimized several Filipinos.
"Do not be fooled by these swindlers who portray Greece (and Cyprus) as an ideal jumping board to Europe. Because of the influx of illegal workers from other countries, Greece has been tightening its laws and regulations on immigration and foreign workers. Before going to Greece, see first your labor contract and your working permit. Don't be afraid to ask the POEA about your plan to work in Greece," he added.
The second issue Valencia cited was the lack of bilateral social security/labor agreement between Greece and the Philippines.
"There are OFWs who have been here since the late '70s. Their social security payments will all go to the Greek state if they decide to go back to the Philippines unless they meet retirement requirements.
Social security issue
"How many Filipino ambassadors have (come and gone) and have done nothing about the social security issue? This is the (migrants') money (at stake)."
"We have to do something about it. They think that being assigned to Greece is just like having a nice time, while the Filipino migrant has to scrub the toilets," Kuya Joe said.
Valencia can't help but recall the embassy's "shabby treatment" of OFWs. "Try to report a case to the Philippine Embassy and they will answer, 'Problema na naman.' They consider Filipinos a problem."
"It's in the law--Batasang Pambansa 8042--that said the embassy must give priority to Filipino migrants," said Valencia.
Republic Act No. 8042 was enacted in June 1995 to concretize government's commitment to protect the rights and promote the welfare of migrant workers, their families and other overseas Filipinos in distress. It also provides the framework for concerted government action in dealing with the difficulties faced by Filipinos abroad.
In a nation that considers democracy and workers' rights as sacred, Valencia continues to wait for Philippine Embassy officials to wake up and use Greek society's pro-labor stance in the Filipino laborer's favor.
For Valencia, it's a restless wait. The queue to his open door is getting longer.
Document AIWPHI0020070122e31600013

The 1630 GMT News Advisory
AFP

629 words

6 January 2007

11:42 AM

Agence France Presse

AFPR

English

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.
HONG KONG, Jan 7, 2007 (AFP) -
Duty Editor: Susan Stumme
News Desk: + 852 2829 6211
-- WORLD HEADLINES --
COLOMBO: Fresh bus bomb kills 11 in Sri Lanka
COMILLA: 41 die in Bangladesh bus fire
GAZA CITY: Abbas says Hamas forces are illegal
WASHINGTON: US says Castro has 'months, not years' to live
-- ASIA --
SriLanka-unrest-blast-bus,4thlead
COLOMBO
Eleven people are killed and 47 wounded when a suspected female suicide bomber blows up a bus in Sri Lanka, the second deadly bus attack in two days.
640 words moved by Amal Jayasinghe. Pictures
Bangladesh-accident,4thlead
COMILLA, Bangladesh
At least 41 people are burned to death after fire engulfed a bus packed with migrant workers in Bangladesh, police say.
400 words moved by Gaziul Haq
Nigeria-unrest-oil-China-abduction,2ndlead
LAGOS