Moro group calls for investigation on the plight of deportees from Malaysia

Zamboanga City - Suara Bangsamoro calls for an investigation to the reported human rights violations on the treatment on Filipinos who were deported from Malaysia.  

Amirah Ali Lidasan, national president of Suara Bangsamoro, reacts to reports that many workers including their children were maltreated by Malaysian officials during the crackdown and deportation from Sabah this week.

"We hope that the Malaysian officials will at least be lenient to their Muslim brothers and sisters, and especially their children considering that their stay in Malaysia, although undocumented, has been their last hope in finding a better life that they had never experienced under the Philippine government," said Lidasan.

Lidasan reminded Malaysian authorities that their Muslim brethren in the Philippines were forced to flee the southern provinces in the Philippines because of the unstable condition of their communities due to the on-going military operations and rising presence of foreign troops against Abu Sayyaf bandits and an on and off clashes with the Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front especially in the provinces of Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

Lidasan also added that the continuing economic crisis due to rising prices of oil and basic commodities and the lack of job oppurtunities in the country is forcing many of the Filipinos to work in their neighboring country as their solutiuon for their families to surive,  

"Should the Arroyo administration fail to resolve the economic crisis and the unstable peace and order situation in the south, more and more Filipino will continue to work in Malaysia despite facing ill-treatment and odious terms," said Lidasan.

Lidasan also calls for local government officials, especially those who are running for a seat at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to channel their campaign funds and give immediate relief and medical attention to the deportees.#

Reference:  Amirah Ali Lidasan
national president, Suara Bangsamoro
Mobile Number:  0919-6603839
Email Add:  suarabm@yahoo.com