Filipinos in Tokyo picket Kuwait Embassy in Tokyo

Photos courtesy of MIGRANTE - Japan

Press Release
November 13, 2007

SAVE THE LIFE OF MARILOU!
Filipinos in Tokyo Stage Appeal in Front of Kuwait Embassy

Filipinos belonging to the Kalipunan ng mga Filipinong Nagkakaisa (KAFIN), Philippine Women's League of Japan, the Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP), and Migrante – Japan troop in to the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Tokyo to appeal the case of Marilou Ranario, a Filipina domestic worker whose death sentence by hanging is on final appeal beginning today at the Kuwait's Court of Cassation.

With just a letter of appeal addressed to the Amir of Kuwait, the group requested a dialogue with embassy officials but were refused entry by embassy security. Instead, the they lined up in front of the embassy building and hoisted placards bearing calls to spare the life of Marilou Ranario and criticisms of the Arroyo government for its negligence and insensitivity to the plight of Marilou and other OFWs in death row. The action is part of a global initiative to save the life of Marilou Ranario initiated by Migrante International, an global alliance of organizations of Filipinos overseas.

“Marilou is also a victim here”, says Yuko Takei, spokesperson of the Philippine Women's League of Japan. An elementary teacher by profession, “poverty forced her to give up her profession and leave her family, especially her two young children to work as domestic helper in Kuwait”, added Takei.

Luck was not on Marilou Ranario's side. She has been in jail for more than two years now, but according to her family, Marilou was abused and severely maltreated by her employer. And on the night prior to the tragic incident, she told her family that she fears for her life.

“It could have been a case of self defense”, Rossana Tapiru of Migrante – Japan, said. No one knew exactly what happened in that fateful day. “But one thing is sure, Marilou Ranario is not a murderer. She was a victim of circumstances like many other OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) who suffer various forms of abuse and exploitation in the hands of their employer and in the hands of their own government”, Tapiru, laments.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, right now there are about 35 OFWs in death row, mostly in the Middle East. It could be recalled that in 1995 another Filipina domestic worker, Flor Contemplacion, was hanged in Singapore for the death of another Filipina domestic worker. Her death created an uproar for it exposed government's criminal neglect of the plight of OFWs in extreme conditions .

“We hope and pray that the Amir of Kuwait will listen to our appeal and give back Marilou her freedom so she can be reunited with her family in the Philippines”, says Tapiru. “The Philippine government needs to learn its lessons. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cannot treat OFWs like commodities that she can sell at bargain prices and leave them defenseless in times of needs”, Tapiru further said.

The group vows to continue their appeal to save Marilou Ranario from the death penalty and encourages other Filipinos overseas to do the same by sending a barrage of letter to the Kuwaiti Embassy in their respective countries and letters of condemnation to the Arroyo government.
 

Download statement

HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH SABAH AL-AHMAD AL-JABER AL-SABAH
The Amir of the State of Kuwait
Al Diwan Al Amiri,
Sief Palace - Building 100
State of Kuwait.
Telephone: +965 888881
Fax: +965 2430559
amirsoffice@da.gov.kw

September 26, 2007

Your Highness,

I am writing to appeal to you, on humanitarian grounds, to spare the life of Filipino domestic worker Marilou Ranario, whose death sentence by hanging is now under final appeal with Kuwait's Court of Cassation. I was informed that a final decision is expected sometime early next year.

I empathize greatly with Marilou's plight because her story is one that is largely shared by countless other migrants.

Marilou is a young  mother, wife, sister and daughter who wanted little more than a better life for her family. She is a teacher by profession but poverty compelled her to leave behind her children

 and work in Kuwait as a domestic worker. Her husband is a jeepney driver but until today, he does not have a regular source of income. It is truly tragic that in her bid to eke out a decent living for her children, she now faces the prospect of perhaps never seeing them again.
 

In this regard, I hope very much that the extreme conditions Marilou may have been subject to before the tragic death of her employer is considered. According to statements by Marilou's family, Marilou reportedly told them that she was being severely maltreated and that the night before her employer's death, she feared greatly for her life.

In closing, I wish to thank your Highness in advance for considering my letter of appeal and again, I hope very much that Marilou's life may indeed be spared.

Your sincerely,

Yuko Takei
Spokesperson
THE PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF JAPAN
KALIPUNAN NG MGA FILIPINONG NAGKAKAISA
FILIPINA CIRCLE FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROGRESS
MIGRANTE-JAPAN
 

Download letter

Filipinos in New York and New Jersey hold community prayer vigil

to save the life of Marikou Ranario

Photos courtesy of NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP)

She could be your mother, sister, tita, neice, or friend.....

Mga Kababayan sa New York at New Jersey,

This week, the Kuwaiti High Court of Cassation will begin hearing oral arguments for the case of Marilou Ranario, a 33 year old Filipina domestic worker from Surigao del Sur in jail and on death row. Marilou was convicted in 2005 for the murder of her employer, a man who was viciously abusing and raping her. The victim's family have since withdrawn their lawsuits against Marilou, yet she remains on death row (please see attached fact sheet.) and languishing in jail awaiting her sentence. She is currently supporting 2 children back in the Philippines while her husband can't find stable work as a jeepney driver.

Abuse, rape, and maltreatment are common experiences for our hardworking overseas Filipino workers, who are forced to choose a life abroad in order to escape poverty and provide for their families. Marilou represents all of us; yet despite this reality, the Philippine government is doing nothing to save her from execution by hanging. As was the case of Flor Contemplacion, a Filipina domestic worker who was executed by the Singapore judicial system in 1995, it is up to the worldwide community of Filipinos and migrant workers to stand up for justice when governments fail to protect their people, and show their might on the streets. Please visit and sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com / marilou/petition.html and join us for...

SAVE MARILOU RANARIO!
COMMUNITY PRAYER VIGIL TO SAVE THE LIFE OF MARILOU RANARIO, FILIPINA DOMESTIC WORKER ON DEATH ROW IN KUWAIT

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 7PM
MEET IN FRONT OF KRYSTAL'S
6902 ROOSEVELT AVE, CORNER 69TH

Sponsored by Kabalikat-Philippine Forum (Filipina Domestic Workers Support Network), the NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) and the Save Marilou Ranario Movement (SMRM)

 

LETTER FROM THE MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for those who have extended their support in the campaign to save the life of our sister, Marilou Ranario.. For those who have not signed up, please do so and would appreciate if you can circulate to your networks.

Marilou Ranario is a Filipino domestic worker convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging in Kuwait. On November 13, the Kuwait Court of Cassation (High Court) will hear the oral arguments on Marilou Ranario case. It is expected that the conclusion of the case will happen in December 2007 or February 2008.


 

We have attached a sample of appeal letter address to the Kuwaiti Emir and factsheet. Please copy furnish us a copy of your letter to be presented during the dialogue at the Kuwait Embassy in the Philippines on November 13, 2007.

Your support is highly appreciated.

Thank you very much in anticipation.

Sincerely yours,

CONNIE BRAGAS-REGALADO
Chairperson, MIGRANTE International, a global alliance of 130 Filipino migrant organizations
Convenor, Save Marilou Ranario Movement

■   Sample letter of appeal

■   Petition letter addressed to GMA

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