Seventy-three Asians -- 49 Bangladeshis, 11 Iraqis, six Egyptians, three Indians, two Sri Lankans, one Algerian and one Iranian -- were rescued by the Israeli navy off the Lebanese coast. The passengers claimed they each paid US$ 2,000 to the seamen to take them to Italy from Greece. After two or three days of voyage, the captain claimed they ran into some technical problems and he and the crew had to return to Greece to obtain some spare parts.

Turkish police authorities arrested 282 illegal immigrants trying to cross Greece. Among those arrested were Asians from Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Turkey is considered to be one of the main routes used by Asian and African illegal immigrants to cross Europe.

Two more boatloads carrying 184 (another report said 175) illegal immigrants landed off the West Australian coast. All of them are believed to be of Middle Eastern origin. While other illegal immigrants from Turkey, Iraq and China are housed at Woomera, the latest arrivals will go to Curtin in Derby.

Last week, the largest group of illegal immigrants ever detained in Australia was intercepted and towed in the northern port of Darwin. Aboard an Indonesian inter-island ferry were 352 illegal immigrants, which included 299 men, women and children from Iraq, 46 from Afghanistan, four Iranian men, two Algerians and one Palestinian man. The three Indonesian crew members (another report cited seven crew members) will be detained in Darwin and will face charges of bringing people to Australia illegally which carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to A$220,000 (US$140,800).

A total of 693 (or 544) illegal entrants were reported to have arrived in Australia since November 1. The number of illegal immigrants in the past three months has already surpassed the 926 who arrived in 1998-99 and the 157 in 1997-98.

New Zealand Immigration Service authorities disclosed that they will deny refugee status to 18 hunger strikers in Mount Eden Prison if they refuse to be interviewed. Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere said there was no medical reason to prevent the men, who were from India, Pakistan and Iran, to be interviewed. He attributed their lack of cooperation to "psycho-social" reasons. However, according to Nagalingam Rasalingam, a doctor who specializes in refugee health, the admission of psycho-social problems backed the men’s claim of their health status; he noted that one of them had physical evidence of torture.

New Zealand Health Minister Wyatt Creech announced a NZ$5 million training package to train some 200 immigrant doctors so they can qualify to practice in the country. Many doctors from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Middle East countries were barred from practicing their medical profession because the New Zealand Medical Council refused to recognize their qualifications. The foreign doctors instead worked as taxi drivers, cleaners, laborers, and in other unskilled jobs. Meanwhile, several small towns in rural New Zealand lack doctors. The problem has been traced to the lack of coordination between the Immigration Service, which granted them permanent residence, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, which recognized their overseas credentials, and medical organizations like the Medical Council, which do not recognize qualifications except those from Australia, Canada, South Africa, Britain, Ireland and the US.

Sources: "Illegal Asian immigrants abandoned off Lebanese coast," Xinhua General News Service, 1 November 1999; AFP, "Turkey detains immigrants," Dawn, 2 November 1999; NZPA, "Stand-off in refugee row," 2 November 1999; David Barber, "Training offered to migrant doctors," South China Morning Post, 3 November 1999; David Reardon and Brendan Nicholas, "Record 352 held as boat off Western Australia," The Age, 3 November 1999; Reuters, AFP, "Australia seizes boat 352 illegals on board," Strait Times, 3 November 1999; Reuters, "Largest group of illegal immigrants held," Khaleej Times, 6 November 1999; AAP, "Illegal immigrants to be housed at Woomera," The Age, 9 November 1999; AAP, "Two more immigrant boats arrive off WA coast," The Age, 9 November 1999

China (see also Hong Kong)

The Canadian government is expected to shoulder C$52 million, or C$123,000 each person, for the accommodations and for processing the refugee claims of 421 detained illegal Chinese immigrants. According to the Internal Finance Department, the Federal Citizenship and Immigration Department will need to spend C$34 million on the unexpected arrivals this fiscal year and another C$18 million for the migrants’ stay in 2000-2001. Since July, 599 Chinese have been caught from four vessels: 421 are currently detained, and out of the 71 claimants not detained, 55 have been thought to abandon their claim. The 98 others were issued exclusion orders since immigration officials have not accepted their refugee claims.

Cambodian police deported 226 illegal Chinese immigrants while a high-level talk with Chinese delegation, led by Central Committee Head of Foreign Affairs Li Chenren of Chinese Communist Party, was on going. Relations between China and Cambodia had significantly improved but is still marred by the use of Cambodia as a transit point by human smugglers

Shenzhen border guards have been put on alert for illegal immigrants attempting to cross into Hong Kong and Macao. According to reports, snakeheads are spreading rumors of job opportunities for the construction of Hong Kong Disneyland, and Macao’s offer of amnesty after the handover on 19 December. To date, a total of 266 people and 14 snakeheads have been intercepted in Shenzhen for trying to leave China illegally.

The investigation of the Australian Senate Committee on the case of Zhu Qingping, a pregnant woman who was deported back to mainland China days before she was due to give birth, found no evidence that she was forced to undergo abortion. Zhu Qingping accused the Australian Immigration Department of racism and for ignoring key information in her case. She was deported back to Guangxi autonomous region.

Australian immigration officials claimed they had crushed an elaborate people-smuggling scam which would have brought hundreds of Chinese nationals to Australia illegally. The scam, which operated in Bangkok, involved advertising in a local Chinese news paper for 230 people to work as chefs, computer operators, public relations personnel, broadcasting staff and guides at next year’s Sydney Olympics. The advertisement offered salaries of up to A$35,000 (HK$173,000 or US$22,400) annually once they paid a sign-on fee of A$4,000 to cover language tuition and an Australian visa.

Beijing expressed its displeasure and opposition to the US' granting of political asylum to Chen Rong, a Falun Gong (a spiritual movement) member. Chen Rong claimed that she faces imminent persecution, including prison and torture for practicing Falun Gong, once she returns to China. The Chinese government also demanded the arrest and repatriation of Li Honghzi, a New York-based leader, for tax evasion and cult-related charges. As the crackdown intensifies on the mainland, at least ten more Falun Gong members are seeking political asylum in the United States. Other sect followers are also being held for crimes ranging from stealing state secrets to obstructing the law.

A Hong Kong Family Welfare Society-commissioned study revealed that two-thirds of 40 mothers who arrived from mainland China suffered "heavy stress" and recommended professional counseling to help them. Interviews with newly arrived families found that the mothers only had primary education or none at all. The mothers were also desperate to have job and had to take care of the children at the same time. It also showed that only 2.5 percent had both parents working and 80 percent of the families were earning less than HK$10,000 a month.

To help the families from the mainland, the society offered an integrated family service package to more than 1,000 families in the past 16 months. The program, which includes counseling, home visits and employment counseling, was found useful by 97 percent of the 124 families interviewed.

Sources: Sheldon Alberts, "Illegal Chinese migrants could cost Ottawa $52M," National Post, 2 November 1999; AFP, "Chinese communists arrive in Cambodia as illegal migrants thrown out," 3 November 1999; Tommy Lewis, "Shenzhen on alert for illegal immigrants’ exodus," South China Morning Post, 4 November 1999; AFP, "Cambodia deports 200 Chinese illegals," Strait Times, 4 November 1999; AFP, "Australia says it has smashed Olympics Thai immigration ring," 7 November 1999; Agnes Lam, "Mainland mothers ‘most stressed,’" South China Morning Post, 8 November 1999; AP, "Canada back door to New York for smuggled Chinese," Hong Kong Standard, 8 November 1999; "Refugee abortions claim," South China Morning Post, 9 November 1999; "US warned in sect asylum," Hong Kong Standard, 10 November 1999; "US asylum offer for Falun Gong member infuriates Beijing," South China Morning Post, 10 November 1999; Greg Torode, "US asylum bid by 10 more sect members," South China Morning Post, 15 November 1999

Hong Kong (see also China, Japan)

The Housing Authority has eased the residency requirement, benefiting 5,300 migrant families from the mainland. Under the new rules, all children aged under 18, regardless of place of birth, are qualified under the seven-year residency rule as long as at least one parent has lived in Hong Kong for seven years. The threshold for family members satisfying residency rules was lowered from 51 percent to 50 percent.

As of August, 118,000 applicants were on the waiting list, of whom 38,000 did not satisfy the residency requirement. Under the new policy, 32,000 will qualify for residency. The Concern Group for Public Housing for New Arrivals maintains that discrimination against certain groups still persist. The group demanded for the abandonment of the seven-year residency rule.

A police search arrested 15 illegal immigrants from Vietnam. On 14 November, another group of 36 Vietnamese illegal immigrants (27 men, 9 women) were arrested by Hong Kong police. They said they were on their way to Japan, but had to stop near Hainan Island because of bad weather. Official statistics revealed that a total of 902 illegal immigrants were arrested in August, 945 in September and 1,087 last October.

The Social Workers Assistant Branch of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ Association urged the removal of Vietnamese illegal immigrants from the Social Welfare Department-run Pui Chi Boy’s Home in

North Point. The home houses eight minor Vietnamese boys along with 25 local boys with records of minor offences such as shoplifting. The protesters claimed that the Vietnamese boys are too aggressive and confrontational and they might set a bad example to the local boys.

Sources: Edwin Chung, "Rule eased to house migrants," Hong Kong Standard, 5 November 1999; Felix Chan, "Public housing windfall for migrants," South China Morning Post, 5 November 1999; Cheung Chi Fai, "Union urges removal of Viet boys," South China Morning Post, 12 November 1999; "Illegal Viets arrested on way to Japan," Hong Kong Standard, 12 November 1999; "Hong Kong police arrest 36 Vietnamese immigrants," China Times, 15 November 1999

Twenty -one illegal residents filed a request to the Tokyo Regional Immigration Office for special permission to live permanently in Japan. The group, supported by a petition bearing 593 signatures of Japanese scholars and researchers, urged the government to review its immigration policy and give more consideration to human rights.

The 21 applicants were questioned within six weeks after filing their amnesty request, which usually takes 18 to 24 months. Kasuo Yoshinari, lawyer of the group and president of the Asian People’s Friendship Society, saw this swift process as an indication that the bureau had cut the procedures for compiling full reports on each case. However, he criticized the bureau for its apparent effort to conclude the issue before it catches public attention as a bad sign for amnesty efforts. There are still no changes in the "inhuman immigration policy of the Japanese government," he said.

Ana Bortz, 35, a reporter for a Brazilian satellite television, was escorted out of a jewelry store in Hamamatsu City where she lived because the store's owners said they had a policy of refusing Brazilians. She went to court and won and was awarded $47,000 in damages. The case is seen by many foreigners in Japan as a landmark in their anti-discrimination struggle. Japan's 1946 Constitution states that "all of the people are equal under the law and there shall be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin." In the Japanese version, "all of the people" is rendered "kokumin," essentially meaning all Japanese people. In the absence of Japanese laws covering the treatment of foreigners, Judge Tetsuro So, cited Japan's obligation under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination. Because the judgment was based under international law, it cannot be appealed under Japanese law. The Convention was adopted by the UN 31 years ago. Japan was the 148^th country to sign it in 1996. The "discovery" of the treaty's existence could have implications on discrimination cases raised by foreigners living in Japan.

The Nagoya District Court found the former leader of an organized crime and two other conspiring members guilty of human smuggling. The court sentenced the former gang leader three years and six months in prison and a fine of 1 million yen for twice helping Chinese nationals enter Japan illegally. During the first smuggling operation, the three transported 38 Chinese in Ishikawa Prefecture on October 23 last year; another time they transported 11 illegal Chinese immigrants in Yatomi Aichi Prefecture.

Japan slashed the HK$400 fee for a multiple-entry visa and HK$200 single-entry visa charge to a flat charge of HK$80 to all SAR passport holders. Starting on December 1, Hong Kong SAR passport holders will pay the same price as British National (overseas) passport holders do. The reduced fee is expected to benefit Hong Kong residents and encourage the development of bilateral trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.

Sources: Hiroshi Matsubara, "Visaless group urges more flexible rights policy," Japan Times, 3 November 1999; "Ex-gang leader gets 3 years for human smuggling," 4 November 1999; "Scholars petition state to give illegals amnesty," Japan Times, 11 November 1999; Angela Li, "Japan visa price cut," South China Morning Post, 13 November 1999: Grace Loo, "Japan in visa fee switch," Hong Kong Standard, 13 November 1999; Howard W. French, "Japan's cultural bias against foreigners comes under attack," The New York Times, 15 November 1999

One hundred people, including a photographer and several journalists, were injured and six police cars were torched when Egyptian workers rioted on 30 October, in Kheitan, 20 kilometers south of Kuwait City. The riot broke out after an Egyptian allegedly refused to pay the Bangladeshi shopkeeper for breaking a plate. When Kuwaiti police came to arrest the Egyptian and his friends, other Egyptians sacked the grocery shop to protest their innocence and heavy-handed detention. The crowd of 400 Egyptians went out of control as they looted houses, and torched cars despite firing shots and tear gas from the Kuwaiti special forces.

Twenty workers will stand trial for instigating the riot. Since many of the workers were believed to be victims of visa trading, the Kuwaiti government also plans to crack down on visa trading and introduce legislation that would make it easier to prosecute visa traders. The bill would impose harsh penalties, which include jail terms, against Kuwaitis who recruit foreign labor and fail to provide jobs.

Sources: AFP, "100 injured as Egyptian workers riot in Kuwait," Brunei Bulletin, 1 November 1999; AP, "Kuwait supermarket fight sparks riots by Egyptian workers," 1 November 1999; AFP, "Kuwait drafts law against visa trading after workers riot," 9 November 1999; "Cabinet mulls draft law with harsher penalties for ‘visa traders,’" Khaleej Times, 9 November 1999

UAE (see also Bangladesh, Thailand)

Due to the increasing number of complaints received by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Undersecretary Mohammed bin Issa Suwaidi urged the public to report recruiting violations, including demands for registration and other fees. This announcement came after dozens of job-seekers were misled by Bin Awas General Services Establishment, an unregistered recruiting company that promised them non-existent jobs in the oil industry. Al Suwaidi vowed to punish all offenders found guilty of recruitment violations

Sharjah authorities urged businesspersons and company managers not to hire expatriates under the sponsorship of other companies. This practice, according to a Sharjah Police representative, complicates police searches for information on suspects and impedes the process of investigation.

Lawyers representing 42 seamen stranded on three ships at Kalba seaport are still fighting to win a court order for unpaid salaries and legal fees. All three ships had been abandoned by their former owners, the Gulf Shore Shipping Co. The seamen had been sitting offshore for eight months until the crews ran out of diesel, fresh water and other basic necessities. The new owners had obtained a court order for the release of two vessels (the third one was deemed over-aged and unseaworthy) and they want to replace the ships' crews with new seamen. The seamen's lawyers convinced the court that one of the ships be impounded until the question of the crew's back salaries is settled.

Due to the increasing number of people abusing their visit visas, the Ministry of the Interior and the Department of Naturalisation and Residency have banned the conversion of visit visas into labor or residence visas, unless the sponsor remains the same. People visit visas have been found to pay a large amount of money to be transferred to new sponsors who are offering jobs. In order to control the trade in visit visas, tourist companies and hotels may issue only tourist visas valid for one month, the Dubai Immigration Department added.

Sources: Nissar Hoath, "Jobseekers urged to report recruiting violations," Gulf News, 1 November 1999; "Sharjah police warn against hiring illegal workers," Khaleej Times, 5 November 1999; Fayrouz Tawfik, "Visit visa conversion banned," Gulf News, 11 November 1999; Tahseen Shaghouri, "Lawyer fights for stranded sailors' pay," Gulf News, 15 November 1999

Home Secretary Safiur Rahman launched a drive to identify at least 100,000 illegal foreign workers in Bangladesh. Many of these illegal workers who work in garment factories, construction, guest houses and hospitals came from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Taiwan and China. Most of these illegal workers entered Bangladesh on a tourist or visitor visa.

Bangladesh Consul-General to UAE Golam Hosan reported that single Bangladeshi women are still being smuggled into the UAE, despite the government's ban on women going abroad without permission from their guardians. Since most of these women, who are usually employed as housemaids, do not hold proper visas, their employers abandon them once it is discovered that they are undocumented. So far, 17 women were repatriated by the Bangladesh consulate this year.

After a two-year break, prompted by Malaysia's concern with illegal immigrants, Bangladesh is set to start sending skilled workers back to Malaysia. In 1997, 150,000 of 300,000 Bangladeshi workers were deported from Malaysia after they were discovered to have overstayed their visas or were working without proper authorization. According to Labour and Manpower Minister Abdul Mannan, the government expects to send 1,500 skilled workers in the first phase next month. Remittances from its more than three million overseas workers have reached US$1.51 billion in 1998, from US$1.34 billion in 1997.

Sources: AFP, "100,000 foreigners working illegally in Bangladesh: report," 5 November 1999; Sunita Menon, "Bangladesh women evade ban on travel," Gulf News, 7 November 1999; AFP, "Bangladesh to start sending labour back to Malaysia," 9 November 1999

With Moinuddin Haider as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, the proposal for setting up an alien registration authority is expected to receive renewed attention. The Citizens Police Liaison Committee submitted the proposal after conducting an extensive survey of foreign immigrants who entered Pakistan illegally. The proposal, which focused mainly on Bangladeshis, calls for aliens to register themselves and to apply for a work permit. A registered alien will be allowed to stay and seek employment in a city or town in Pakistan indicated in the card.

According to elite intelligence agencies, there were 3.35 million foreign immigrants in the country in 1993. There were 1.45 million foreign immigrants in Karachi, of whom 80 percent or 1.2 million were Bangladeshis and 200,000 were Burmese.

Central-II senior special judge Muhammed Afzal Khan canceled the bail of Passport Department superintendent Nasir Sherwani. Sherwani allegedly issued 2074 fake passports to illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran and India.

Sources: Sabihuddin Ghausi, "Aliens likely to be registered," Dawn, 8 November 1999; "Fake passports: special judge cancels bail of official," Dawn, 12 November 1999

Working Director W. G. Upali Weerasinghe of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment announced that the bureau will extend the training period for housemaids from 12 days to one month. Maids often encounter problems abroad, he said, because of insufficient training and different social environment.

Under the 19 bureau-run and 22 privately-run training centers, maids are trained on basic English and Arabic, how to use modern electrical appliances, banking, and health and hygiene. Those who complete the program receive a certificate of the skills training, classifying them outside the category of unskilled workers. Extending similar skills program to other low-income workers, like cleaners and helpers is also planned.

About 100,000 refugees who fled Vavuniya camped in Colombo and other southern towns fearing an attack by separatist Tamil Tiger guerillas. After capturing 10 army bases and causing major losses for the military, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was reported to be at Thandikulam, 20 kilometers north of Vavuniya, invoking fear among the residents of the town. The residents refused to return despite the military's vigorous campaign.

According to Immigration and Emigration Department authorities, a foreign investor could apply for a guest resident visa, upon paying US$25,000 and after completing a five-year stay or making an investment of US$ 150,000 in Sri Lanka. Under the present scheme, each resident guest is expected to pay US$1,500 each month.

Multiple entry visas are issued to qualified investors and business people with a maximum stay of 12 months. Tourists and business people are issued with visit visas valid for six months. An extension of up to 12 months can be granted upon payment of a Rs. 10,000 special tax, double the amount of normal visa fees. Visitors, however, from certain European, Middle Eastern and Nordic countries, those from the former Socialist block, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China can enter without visas and will be given landing endorsement valid for 30 days.

The Citizenship Act of 1987 provides a Sri Lankan who is no longer a citizen to regain citizenship upon payment of Rs.100,000 and Rs.25,000 for each child under 21 years old. Also, a child born outside the country whose Sri Lankan mother is married to a foreigner automatically assumes his/her father’s citizenship. Upon reaching the age of 21, the child could decide on whether to be a citizen of the father’s country or the mother’s country.

Sources: Ruwani Fernando, "Sri Lanka to double maids’ training period," Gulf News, 3 November 1999; Afreeha Jawad, "Guest resident visa scheme," 13 November 1999; Nirupama Subramanian, "100,000 refugees camp outside town as rebel forces approaches," South China Morning Post, 15 November 1999; Reuters, "Sri Lankan troops ask refugees to go home," The Star, 16 November 1999

After a three-day visit to Thailand, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng announced that the government, in cooperation with Thai authorities, will crackdown on smugglers along the common border and press for more legitimate trade with Thailand. The two countries decided to enhance cooperation in addressing border-related issues such as robbery, drug trafficking, smuggling of vehicles and artifacts, illegal immigrants and other criminal activities.

Source: AP, "Cambodia, Thailand to crack down," 6 November 1999

Indonesia (see also Malaysia)

The International Force for East Timor (Interfet) of East Timor peacekeepers are finding it difficult to convince thousands of refugees to return home. There could be an outbreak of cholera and other diarrheal diseases in the hills where the refugees have sought shelter once the rainy season begins.

The UN Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET), which supervises the rebuilding of East Timor, estimated that there were 850,000-890,000 living in East Timor. Two hundred sixty thousand are in West Timor, most of whom were deported against their will. This figure came from Indonesian authorities based on food deliveries by international humanitarian organizations. Another 150,000 were estimated to be scattered in Indonesia, or a total of 410,000 refugees. Based on these numbers, some 450,000-500,000 are likely to be East Timorese. So far, the UN refugee agency and the International Organisation for Migration have managed repatriate about 30,000 in East Timor. Other reports estimated returnees to number around 45,000 or 50,000. Interfet forces estimate that at least 80,000 East Timorese are left unaccounted for. They have confirmed that 108 people died of violent and unnatural death since August 30.

Indonesian Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri is expected to visit West Timor to investigate the plight of East Timorese, particularly reports of harassment by militia forces. Despite the presence of the Indonesian military (TNI), militiamen (estimated at around 15,000) were reported to be blocking the return of some 200,000 East Timorese. There were also reports of intimidation inside West Timor, including sexual intimidation and rape committed by the militia. Aitarak militia leader Eurico Guterres, however, denied these reports. UN human rights experts were supposed to investigate these harassments, but were allegedly denied visas by the Indonesian government; the government claimed it had not received the visa applications.

A breakthrough of sorts occurred with the joint efforts by the Interfet and the Indonesian military in facilitating the crossing of a convoy of 600 refugees West Timor into East Timor. UNHCR official spokesperson Ariane Quentier hopes that this will be the beginning of similar operations. To further speed up the repatriation of refugees, the UNCHR has opened a second land route into East Timor. There were 44,000 people waiting to cross from the Indonesian controlled West Timor.

Health problems hound refugees who fled the violence in the wake of renewed activities by the Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM). Most of the 12,000 refugees who are housed in camps came from the villages of Geumpang, Tangsa, Tiro and Titeu-Keumala in Pidie District, Aceh Region. At least 200 infants at the Beureunun refugee camps are suffering from serious malnutrition and dozens others have been ill with diarrhea. Some 7,109 adults were also reported to have respiratory diseases. Tens of children and senior people have died in the camps.

Sources: AFP, AFP, "Hard to woo refugees home," The Star, 2 November 1999; "Interfet battles to lure frightened refugees from hills," South China Morning Post, 2 November 1999; AFP, "Struggle to get refugees to return," Strait Times, 2 November 1999; Reuters, "Mystery over missing East Timorese," Borneo Bulletin, 2 November 1999; Reuters, "UN baffled by missing thousands," Hong Kong Standard, 2 November 1999; AFP, Reuters, "80,000 East Timorese not accounted for," Strait Times, 4 November 1999; "Hundreds of infants at refugee camp suffer serious malnutrition," ExpressIndia, 2 November 1999; Sian Powell, "Cholera new fear for Dili," 5 November 1999; Dennis Schulz, "Wet season life-threatening to refugees," 5 November 1999; AFP, "Militias forcing border toll on poor refugees," Hong Kong Standard, 6 November 1999; AFP, "Militias step up campaign of fear against refugees, South china Morning Post, 8 November 1999; AP, "Indonesia refuses visas to UN human rights experts, official says," South China Morning Post, 8 November 1999; AFP, "600 Timorese cross border in breakthrough," Hong Kong Standard, 9 November 1999; "Illegals fined," Borneo Bulletin, 11 November 1999; AFP, "Militia chief denies his men behind intimidation of refugees on Border," South China Morning Post, 12 November 1999; AP, "Refugees blocked from returning," South China Morning Post, 12 November 1999; AP, "UN opens new land route for refugees," South China Morning Post, 12 November 1999; Reuters, "Aceh refugees afraid to return to their villages," Strait Times, 12 November 1999; Reuters, "Mega to check on refugees in West Timor," Strait Times, 14 November 1999

Malaysia (see also Bangladesh)

The Eastern Command (EC) has intensified its operations in eliminating criminal activities in the nine districts in the East Coast of Sabah. Nine foreigner criminals were shot dead in its recent operations. In an assessment meeting, the EC's operations were found to reduce criminal activities in the area. It has also deported 7,767 illegal immigrants since September 7 in its drive against illegal immigrants

Under 'Ops Tuku,' the 10th Battalion, General Operation Force (GOF) Lanang Camp, arrested 92 suspected illegal immigrants at three saw mills in Bawang Assan, Sarawak. Eighty-nine would be charged under Section 6(1) Immigration Act, 1963 and the other three under Section 15(1)(c) Immigration Act, 1963. Earlier, they arrested 105 workers; 13 were released after they found documented. There were already 419 illegal immigrants arrested by GOF from January to November this year and 321 illegal immigrants last year, he added.

Thirteen foreign women and nine pimps were arrested in a police raid in Luyang, Kepayan and Likas. Also recovered from the operation were condoms, pornographic video CDs and photo albums of the women. The women are believed to have been brought into the country for prostitution purposes. Also, another 33 women and 11 men were held for questioning in Bandaran Berjaya for similar offenses.

In Klang, four women -- two Cambodians, a Thai, and a Russian -- were sentenced to one month jail each by Magistrate Rafidah Omar. They will be deported after serving their sentence. The four women were found guilty of violating their entry permits by working as prostitutes. Two other Cambodian women who were arrested for prostitution at hotel in Pandamaran on October 10, claimed trial to the charge and were scheduled for hearing on 25 November. Another Russian woman who was arrested in the same venue pled guilty to entering the country without permit, will be jailed for a month, and will then be deported.

State Immigration Assistant Director Wan Aziz Wan Mahmud announced that the department expects this year’s number of illegal immigrants deported to exceed last year’s total of 18,760. From January to September, the Immigration Department has ordered the deportation of 18,686 Indonesians. He attributed the increase in the number of Indonesians entering Malaysia illegally to Indonesia’s political and economic crises.

Forged travel documents syndicate

Malaysian police busted a syndicate dealing in forged travel documents and cough mixture in Taman Midah. Three Myanmar nationals were caught red-handed processing travel documents. Also confiscated from them were 169 grams of heroin and 16 bottles of cough mixture. Earlier in June, six people were arrested in Kampung Cheras Baru, suspected to be members of the same syndicate.

Acting Umno Youth leader Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said that the party is not in favor of admitting foreign workers in the country because they may grab job opportunities away from Malaysians. He said that the government should give Malaysians priority in job opportunities. This statement was prompted when Indonesian Manpower Minister Bomer Pasaribu's expressed the hope that Malaysia will hire most of the 230,000 workers the Indonesian government is planning to deploy overseas next year.

Officials from the Immigration, Manpower and Labour Departments were urged by the Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce to allow foreign workers to fill vacancies in food and small-scale retail business. The local business community lamented over the shunning of local people from doing menial jobs and the imminent shortage of labor. Senadin Assemblyman Lee Kim Sin further impelled the government to conduct a study into the labor needs of Miri over the next ten years to determine its future demands.

The Immigration Department was urged to examine the six-month validity ruling for international passports. This was after Dr. Shaik Ismael Bux complained that the five-year validity period of the passport is actually good for 4-1/2 years only. Penang Immigration Director Md Saad Md Akhir, on the other hand, said that the six-month ruling was an "international rule" albeit not stated in the Immigration Act of 1963.

Sarawak State Secretary Tan Sri Hamid Bugo announced that the Federal Government has approved special passports to be used by Sarawakians who frequently travel across the border into Brunei. The special passport, which costs RM300, half the cost of a normal international passport of RM600, is expected to benefit lorry and van drivers, cargo transportation companies, newspaper delivery companies and those in the retail and wholesale businesses.

Sources: Arman Gunsika, "East coast of Sabah looks like war zone," Borneo Bulletin, 2 November 1999; K. Suthakar, "Passport rule may be reviewed," The Star, 2 November 1999; George Francis, "Locals ‘choosy’ so Miri shops clamor for aliens," Borneo Bulletin, 3 November 1999 "Sabah cops arrest in 22 in ops against prostitution rings," The Star, 4 November 1999; Mark Silv, "92 suspected illegal immigrants rounded up," Sarawak Tribune, 5 November 1999; Four foreign call girls jailed one month each," The Star, 5 November 1999; "Two Sabah prostitution rings busted," Strait Times, 6 November 1999; "KL fears influx of workers from Indonesia," Strait Times, 6 November 1999; "Record number of illegal immigrants deported," The Star, 8 November 1999; "Over 18,000 illegals deported," Strait Times, 9 November 1999; "Locals must get job priority, says Umno Youth," Strait Times, 9 November 1999; Stephen Then, "Special passport gets gov’ts approval," The Star, 13 November 1999; "Syndicate forging papers busted," The Star, 14 November 1999

Burmese troops threatened to shoot anyone stepping off the boat that landed near the Burmese border town of Mwaddy. The 200 Burmese workers aboard were later taken and released in another spot along the Moei river. The troops also refused the entry of deported Burmese workers suspecting that there could be some dissidents among them. This case and the deportation of 500 workers to Burma have alarmed 13 NGOs and some human rights group. Human Rights Watch has called upon the Thai government to identify Burmese who may be eligible for refugee status and to allow UNHCR officials to screen those who claim to be refugees. "Particularly at risk" are the Shan ethnic minority group; unlike the Karen and Karenni, the Shan have no access to refugee camps. Also, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development urged the Thai government to have a clear-cut plan on migrant workers, engage in official-level Thai-Burmese talks, devolve the authority over migrant workers to provincial officials, and set up migrant worker committees composed of employers, migrant workers, NGOs and media.

On the Thai side, the government has been preparing for the repatriation of more than 80,000 illegal Burmese workers. It planned to organize 2,000 police officers, soldiers, immigration and labor officials and volunteers to begin rounding up irregular workers. Tak Provincial Governor Niraj Vajjanaphum said that contrary to reports, local traders and industrialists were cooperative in turning over their alien workers to authorities. Thousands of Burmese were laid off and more than 150 factories were shut down to comply with the policy. Harboring illegal immigrants carries a fine of 100,000 baht and/or 10-year jail term. Entrepreneurs had agreed to hand in 25,000 illegal workers each from the industrial, trade and farm sectors; Tak residents employing some 20,000 maids also complied.

In many provinces like Tak, businesses heavily rely on foreign labor from Burma, Laos and Cambodia. There are about 50,000 Burmese workers in factories and 30,000 in agriculture and services in Tak province alone. On November 2, the Thai Cabinet allowed 163,098 foreign workers a one-year extension to work in 18 types of jobs in 37 provinces. In Chiang Rai, 867 foreign workers were temporarily allowed to work in three types of jobs.

Thailand’s crackdown on illegal Burmese workers continued with 50 Burmese rounded up in Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai. It added 100 extra immigration police from Bangkok in preparation for a search of more than 600 factories in Tak. Those arrested were being detained while waiting for their deportation. Others like the 12,000 people are reportedly hiding in the jungle or have been deported to Burma. About 4,000 men, women, and children, mostly from the Karen tribe, were arrested and forcibly sent across the northern border. Among the 2,000 Burmese forcibly repatriated from Mae Sot District in Tak province, 15 women were allegedly raped by Burmese soldiers. About 400 of them and another 2,000 have fled back across the Moei River into the northern Tak province.

Meanwhile, leaders of the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front refused to register for third country settlement. They said that Thailand is the best place to conduct their struggle against military rule in Burma because of its proximity and number of immigrants. ABSDF General Secretary Aung Thu Nyein said that the 600 members living on the border and the 100 in Bangkok had not registered. A total of around 2,000 members had not registered.

Sources: Supamart Kasem, "80,000 illegals to be sent home," Bangkok Post, 2 November 1999; Reuters, "Dissident students reject Thai deadline," Borneo Bulletin, 2 November 1999; "Factories lay off thousands," Bangkok Post, 3 November 1999; AP, "Guns greet expelled workers," Bangkok Post, 4 November 1999; AFP, "Thais eject Burmese illegals," 5 November 1999; "Stranded workers to go to camps," Bangkok Post, 5 November 1999; "Deported girls: Burmese troops raped 15," Bangkok Post, 8 November 1999; James East, "Myanmar illegals ‘trapped’ in Thai jungles," Strait Times, 10 November 1999; "Groups call for pause in expulsions," Bangkok Post, 11 November 1999; "Lives placed in jeopardy," Bangkok Post, 12 November 1999

Heeding the appeal of Speaker Manuel Villar, the governor of Riyadh Region Prince Salman Abd Al Aziz Saud released 13 (12according to one source) Filipinos from their 22-day detention. The 13 were among the 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) taken into custody for organizing Catholic religious services. Initially, there were 53 Filipinos detained. All of them were released later, except for the 13 who were reportedly the leaders of Jesus is Lord Movement and Shaloom Movement. Villar advised other Filipinos to observe the laws of other countries to avoid the consequences of being jailed. Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits the spreading of faith other than Islam.

The Consular Affairs Division of the DFA revealed that Muslim Filipino women, mostly minor and not literate, are smuggled in by illegal recruiters using the pilgrimage to Mecca as a cover. This modus operandi, facilitated by the so-called escort system at the international airport, brought an estimated 25 Filipino women to work as maids in Jordan every week.

This was discovered after 70 Filipino pilgrims, who had no permit for the haj, were detained in Jeddah last March. Thirty of them had entered Saudi Arabia using the visa for umrah, an optional pilgrimage that takes place outside of the haj. After a month, another 31 Filipinos were arrested in Jeddah for lack of residence permits. Twenty of them were umrah visa holders and the rest were apprehended for harboring illegal aliens.

Senator Francisco S. Tatad, chair of the Philippine Senate committees on foreign relations and labor, appealed to the Hong Kong government to reject any proposal that tends to treat the 160,000 Filipino workers as ‘unwanted minority.’ This was in reaction to the proposal to slap a 20 percent service tax on foreign domestic helpers to pay for the use of public services. Another proposal which has implications for foreign maids is one that would allow employers to terminate pregnant women employees.

RP consulate in Sabah urged

The Philippines and Malaysia agreed to exchange consulates during the 199 Joint Commission meeting. The Philippines proposed to set up a consulate in Kota Kinabalu where many Filipino migrants live. However, until now, the Philippines has not set up its consulate, according to Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines M. H. Ashad. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) listed in its 1999 budget the consulate in Kota Kinabalu as one of the 23 Philippine consulates with a budget of P535,000; a budget was allocated for the non-existent diplomatic mission for the year 2000. The absence of a Philippine consulate or labor office in Sabah has left the many Filipinos living and working there vulnerable to abuses.

Labor attache Chito Marino announced that Filipinos in Bahrain will be given identity cards to help monitor their number in the Gulf Arab state. The identity cards will be issued by OWWA through the Philippine Embassy to an estimated 30,000 Filipinos in Bahrain. Foreign workers make up 62 percent of Bahrain's work force.

Lorna Laraquel, a former domestic worker for a royal family in the Gulf sheikdom, was granted executive clemency by the Egyptian president on 6 October. She claimed that she was abused physically and verbally and was later accused of stealing money and jewelry from the family of her employer, a princess. While staying in Cairo with her employer, she overheard that the princess wanted her dead. She blacked out and stabbed the princess to death with a kitchen knife. On 11 July 1992, the Egyptian court sentenced her to 15 years in jail. The Philippine Embassy in Cairo initiated diplomatic initiatives for her release.

OWWA Administrator Ely Gardiner has ordered to track down the Filipina domestic worker who was shown maltreating her three-year old ward in Taiwan. Local television stations aired the videotape. On the other hand, the November 9 editorial of Taiwan News defended Filipina domestic helpers in Taiwan, that the incident was an isolated case, and cautioned the Taiwanese public against "racial stereotyping." It also said that the public owes a great debt to the services of approximately 12,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan. It advised that employers should be more careful in screening potential employees, regardless of their nationality and duties.

Senators Trent Lott, Mitch Connell, John Ashcroft and Spencer Graham and Phil Graham sponsored Senate Bill 1440 or "The New Workers for Economic Growth Act of 1999." With the companion HB 2698, by Congressman David Drier, the bill seeks to increase the number of H-1B visas (working visas) issued to foreign workers from 115,000 to 200,000 annually.

The H-1B visa is issued to professionals with at least four-year college degrees or their equivalent in education and/or experience who are willing to work in the US as non-immigrant. The high-tech boom has increased the demand for more foreign workers in order to forestall extreme upward wage pressure and overall inflation in the US economy.

During the joint working group on irregularities at the Department of Foreign Affairs, US Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Hubbard lauded the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) success in preventing the activities of human smuggling syndicates to smuggle illegal aliens to the US, using Manila as a transit point. Recently, 24 Chinese nationals were caught carrying fake Singaporean passports. Hubbard also cited the busting of Colombo Connection, a syndicate composed of Sri Lankans which specialized in forging passports and visas of foreign countries, including the US.

BI Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez reported that the bureau has filed 160 complaints for violation of the passport law against Filipinos caught trying to leave the NAIA with tampered passports and fake visas. Nine of these cases resulted in the conviction of the accused who were sentenced to two to four years of jail terms. He attributed this success to the training received by the immigration officials on detecting visa fraud from the US Embassy personnel and representatives of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service.

BI Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez ordered the deportation of six foreign basketball players after their failure to prove that least one of their parents is a Filipino national and for not having work permits. The six players were given one week to appeal the ruling; they are allowed to continue playing while a final decision is pending. So far 12 foreign basketball players have been asked to leave. The bureau is also investigating the status of Filipino-American actors who allegedly violate the conditions of their stay in the Philippines as foreigners.

According to Senator Loren B. Legarda, 50 of the 74 foreigners arrested in the country on charges of drug smuggling in the first ten months of this year face possible death sentences. Most of those arrested were from mainland China or Taiwan, and others were from Germany, Australia, Liberia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, India, Nigeria, France, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Egypt and the US. The growing number of foreigners arrested indicates the rapid increase in the number of Filipinos hooked on shabu or methampthetamine hydrochloride, according to Sen. Legarda. She added that most of those apprehended were caught selling "huge" quantities of shabu, worth P2 million to P56 million (US$0.049 million to US$1.391 million at P40.25 to a US$1). Under Philippine law, smuggling 200 grams of shabu is enough to warrant the death sentence. There are now bills which aim to lower this amount to 10 grams. Since the reimposition of death penalty in 1994, 13 foreigners have been meted a death sentence for large-scale smuggling: seven Taiwanese, five Chinese and a Japanese.

Sources: Romy Mapile, "More jobs for Pinoys, Asians in US next year," Manila Bulletin, 1 November 1999; Christine Avendano, "Pilgrimage visas being used to lure women to Saudi jobs," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2 November 1999; Jerry Esplanada, "Time to put up RP consulate in Sabah," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2 November 1999; Romy Mapile, "Getting an H-1 visa for the US," Manila Bulletin, 2 November 1999; Edd Usman, "Saudi gov’t frees 12 RP workers," Manila Bulletin, 2 November 1999; Princess Pala Gandamra, "Another maid’s tale of woe ends in executives clemency," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3 November 1999; Jun Ramirez, "Immigration cited by US envoy," Manila Bulletin, 3 November 1999; "50 arrested foreign drug traffickers facing death penalty," Business World, 3 November 1999; "Filipinas sneaked in as pilgrims to work in Mid-East," Strait Times, 3 November 1999; "Appeal aired for workers in HK," Manila Bulletin, 4 November 1999; "Saudis heed Villar plea for 13 Pinoys," Philippine daily Inquirer, 4 November 1999; "Philippines order foreign players to be deported," 4 November 1999; Dona Pazzibugan, "Maid in child abuse case hunted," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 5 November 1999; Armband Nocum, "Fil-Am stars next deportation target," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 6 November 1999; Reuters, "Filipinos in Bahrain to get identity cards," 8 November 1999; Christine Avendano, "Saudis free RP preachers," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 9 November 1999; Ignatius Stephen and Alizawaty Mohamad, "Filipinos fined," Borneo Bulletin, 10 November 1999; Dona Pazzibugan, "Taiwan defends Pinay maids," Philippine Daily Inquirer, 13 November 1999

Three Singaporean men were nabbed at Yangon airport on suspicion of trafficking 5.7 kilograms of heroin. Under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotopic Substances Law, the maximum penalty for the offence is death. A week earlier, two Singaporean men were also arrested for importing 220 kilograms of heroin into Australia from Indonesia. The merchandise is estimated to have an estimated street value of A$200 million (S$220 million).

Source: Reuters, AFP, "S’poreans held in Myanmar for heroin trafficking," Strait Times, 11 November 1999

Thailand (see also Myanmar)

Thai labor authorities vowed to deport nearly one million unskilled foreign workers as the deadline for registration for work permits expired . The Thai government has authorized governors in 37 provinces to grant work permits to workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in 18 sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, mining, construction and transportation. As of October 31, 104,571 unskilled foreign workers have registered and have been granted permission to work in Thailand until next year’s August 5, 2000.

To facilitate the identification of identify illegal workers, Thai authorities will issue plastic cards with bar codes to some 106,000 foreign workers. Labour and Social Welfare Department’s Alien Employment Division Director Ms Duangmol Buranakit said that employers of foreign workers will be required to pay a security fee of 1,000 baht (S$44) a year for each worker. A card with bar code will be issued as a work permit, which she emphasized, is not similar to alien worker’s identity card.

The Thai government is likewise urged to upgrade wages and welfare benefits and a good working environment to draw back Thais into the 200,000 unskilled labor jobs vacated by the deported foreign labor, according to Employment Department chief Somchai Wattana.

In another development, foreign investors and industrialists accused the government of a U-turn in its U-turn on the employment of foreign labor and threatened to shift production to other countries. About 30 Taiwanese and Hong Kong owners of garment factories in Tak ‘s Mae Sot district urged the government to examine the damage caused by the policy change in repatriating more than 60,000 Burmese workers.

Since the deadline, Thai police had arrested 1,501 illegal foreigners, 1,304 of them were Burmese. Illegal workers arrested in Thailand between January have reached a total of 64,739 Burmese and 8,293 Cambodians. Another 13,560 had surrendered to the police and returned home voluntarily. However, it is estimated that 800,000, mostly from Burma, Laos and Cambodia, are still working or hiding illegally in the country.

According to Thanakorn Nanthi, an adviser to the labour and social welfare minister, Oman and UAE want

more than 2,000 skilled and 10,000 unskilled Thai workers. Oman is said to demand another 1,572 workers including welders, blacksmiths, electricians, painters and cooling system mechanics with salaries ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 baht. UAE, on the other hand, needs 502 more skilled workers from Thailand. The 10,000 unskilled Thai workers is needed by UAE to replace workers from India, Sri Lanka

and Bangladesh. Currently, there are 300 Thais employed in Oman and 1,500 in the UAE.

According to the report of Immigration Bureau Police Maj.-Gen. Charnvut Watcharabukka, foreign criminals target Thailand to run their illegal activities, particularly smuggling Chinese nationals to a third country, because of its notoriety for easily available counterfeit travel documents. Activities of foreign gangsters have been monitored around Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Bangkok. Police sources said, the US, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and some European countries are the preferred destinations among Chinese immigrants. Most of those involved are from the Middle East, South Asian countries and China. Based on this report, Chinese and Hong Kong nationals were the main targets of the city-wide crackdown on illegal immigrants. A fine of 50,000 baht and/or imprisonment will be meted to owners of rented property who knowingly accommodate illegal immigrants and two-year jail term and/or fine up to 20,000 baht for illegal immigrants. Hotel operators who fail to report the presence of illegal aliens to authorities will face fines of 2,000 to 20,000 baht.

The Thai Royal Air Force sent three C-130 to South Korea to rescue Thai workers who were stranded in Ulsan City after being cheated by a group of Thai placement companies. The 219 workers were stranded there for two months, abandoned by the job-placement agencies who promised them high-paying jobs. abandoned them. Forty-six other Thais had already returned to Thailand on their own. Each of the workers paid 280,000 baht (S$11,872).

Preecha Saengthong, a Thai convicted of drug trafficking, was executed on 11 November in Guangzhou, Southern China. Preecha, along with five other Thais, was apprehended in April 1994. Seized from him were 408 kilograms of marijuana, 845 bullets and two boats. He had been on death row since April but sis execution has been postponed after Thailand appealed for the sentence to be commuted or deferred until the king’s 72^nd birthday. Beijing delayed the execution as a goodwill gesture when Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited China and in view of President Jiang Zemin’s visit to Thailand.

Sources: "Thailand to deport 1 million illegal workers," 2 November 1999; Penchan Charoensuthipan, "Demand for Thais in Oman and UAE," Bangkok Post, 3 November 1999; Penchan Charoensuthipan , "Employers told to improve conditions to attract Thais," Bangkok Post, 5 November 1999; "Foreign workers in Thailand to get special cards," Strait Times, 5 November 1999; "Investors threaten mass pull out," Bangkok Post, 6 November 1999; Roger Maynard, "Game’s up for Olympics jobs scam," South China Morning Post, 9 November 1999; Anjira Assavanonda and Supamart Kasem, "Businesses act to halt expulsions," Bangkok Post, 9 November 1999; Anucha Charoenpo, "Gangs find Thailand attractive,"Bangkok Post, 9 November 1999; AFP, "Foreign firms threaten to pull out of Thailand," Strait Times, 9 November 1999; "Businesses in Tak to shut down," Bangkok Post, 10 November 1999; Wassayos Ngarmkham, "Police to target Chinese," Bangkok Post, 11 November 1999; "Thai faces the firing squad today," Bangkok Post, 11 November 1999; James East, "Police target foreigners in blitz on gangs," South China Morning Post, 12 November 1999; "Thai air force rescues workers stuck in S. Korea," Strait Times, 12 November 1999; "Thai executed," Bangkok Post, 13 November 1999

Vietnam (see also Hong Kong)

According to Nguyen Kim Ly, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Labour, Invalids and

Social Affairs, the city could soon become "Vietnam’s Bangkok" unless authorities curb the flood of migrants. The influx has increased unemployment and homelessness and threatens to overwhelm an infrastructure already weakened by decades of neglect.

The city’s population has increased by 30 percent in the past decade. The city now has a population of 5,200,000, of whom more than a million come from outside of Ho Chi Minh City. Only about half of the city's population have stable jobs. Ten percent of the migrants consist of transients who are come to the city for seasonal work between harvests. There are at least 10,000 people living on the streets.

The Asian Development Bank is set to grant a US$70 (HK$543 million) million loan to upgrade drainage and sewerage systems to prevent flooding of the city’s busiest streets. Likewise, the Vietnamese government will contribute US$30 million to clear the city’s waterways and check air pollution from industrial zones. In addressing the fundamental problem, the government plans to establish export-processing zones outside the city limits that can generate 35,000 to 40,000 new jobs. Ten similar projects are being planned which could provide an additional 100,000 jobs.

Seven Vietnamese nationals are suspected of smuggling fellow citizens into the Czech Republic by providing them with false passports and false police certificates on permanent residence in Czech Republic. They were charged with $10,000 for each immigrant and could face up to ten years in prison if found guilty.

Sources: Huw Watkin, "Migrant flood threatens city," South China Morning Post, 3 November 1999; AP, "Seven arrested for smuggling immigrants from Vietnam into the Czech Republic," 3 November 1999;

The International Day of Solidarity with Migrants commemorates the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (18 December 1990). It is an important opportunity for us to draw the world's attention to the plight and struggles of migrant workers and members of their families, who have contributed to the economic development of host countries.

Since 1997, when the Day of Solidarity was launched in Manila, many organizations and networks have commemorated the Day by promoting awareness and support for migrant workers and to encourage more nations to ratify the Migrant Workers Convention.

If you would like to organize an event on 18 December, please contact us so we can coordinate our efforts. Our website has additional information concerning the Day, and you can email us for the Migration Kit which we will send to you, free of charge.

Coordinator: Saira Shameen
Asian Partnership on International Migration (APIM)
C/o UNDP, PO Box 12544, Kuala Lumpur 50782, Malaysia
Fax: (603) 738 8660/253 2361
Tel: (603) 735 2147/255 9122
Email: apim@tm.net.my
Website: http//:www.apim.apdip.net