International Migrants Day, 2006

It’s International Migrants Day!

Though I’m not in a condition to do the subject justice today, I do hope you’ll take the time to look around and see just how many people from across our borders are here making the country work. Seriously, can you go a day in the city without seeing a migrant worker busting his/her butt?

There is this American movie, ‘A Day Without A Mexican,’ purposely misnamed, where the filmakers imagine what would happen in California if all the Latinos were to suddenly disappear.

If that were to happen here, I think our country would literally (LITERALLY) fall apart. I just wish more people would realise that.
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Quick points:

Some time back 16 pregnant women and children named in a Suaram memo as being detained under the horrible conditions that exist in migrant detention centers. Less than two weeks ago, a group of NGOs met with Immigration to discuss the fate of these 16.

I am delighted to say that I have received word that all 16 have now been released! While not forgetting their initial actions in arresting and detaining them in the first place, full credit where credit is due – good on Immigration for realising the right thing to do, and for doing it.

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Turns out special Sessions Courts will be set up at the detention centres themselves to expediate the processing of migrant cases. Not really sure how this will turn out yet….

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Also glad to see that there are plans to preserve the tainted legacy of Pulau Bidong – where we put scores of Vietnamese boat people through intense and terrible suffering more than 30 years ago. Apparently the Internal Security Ministry has to approve stuff first, so not tooooo hopeful, but any nation should be brave enough to face its past, no matter how shameful. It’s the first step towards healing.