Migrante International
STATEMENT
Migrante International expressed outrage at the recent death of two Filipino migrant seafarers and 12 others who were injured as a result of drone attacks resulting from the escalating US-NATO Proxy War in Ukraine. According to the Department of Migrant Workers, a total of nine vessels carrying the Filipino seafarers and transiting the Black Sea were reported to have been attacked in separate instances. Meanwhile, one Filipino seafarer remains missing.
“We mourn the death of our two Filipino seafarers and extend our deepest sympathies to their families. We condemn the escalating conflict and imperialist wars from Europe to the Middle East, led by the number one imperialist United States that has directly endangered the lives and safety of migrant seafarers who work in various ports, logistics hubs and cargo, commercial and oil rig vessels” stated Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson of Migrante International
Migrante also lambasted the Marcos Jr. regime for failing to protect Filipino seafarers and for supporting the U.S. in strengthening its global war machine.
“While the Department of Migrant Workers has declared maritime corridors such as the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz as “War-like Operations Areas” and released advisories to our seafarers on their right to refuse deployment, the death of our two seafarers prove that the PH government’s response remain inadequate and do not address the systemic problem of the lack of long-term job creation for Filipino seafarers at home and prioritizing the building of our own national maritime industry”, according to Concepcion
“We also hold Marcos equally accountable for the deaths of our seafarers and the increasing number of Filipino seafarers who are placed in the cross fire because he continues to bow down to his imperialist master, surrendering Philippine sovereignty by allowing the US to use the entire country as a military base and launching pad for its wars of agression. He has committed to providing the US with vast tracts of land under the Pax Silica initiative for weapons production that will only heighten the global crisis and place more innocent lives at risk” added Concepcion.
Migrante called on Filipino seafarers to join the growing global movement resisting imperialist wars.
“Filipino seafarers alongside all Filipino migrant workers all over the world should unite, express our rage and join collective protest actions to demand an end to all imperialist wars of agression, and resist US intervention in the Philippines that are causing the suffering of working peoples.” declared Concepcion
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📷 Ukranian Navy
