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Refugees of the Philippines

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Displaced Filipinos
Gaya Island featuring the large settlement of Kampung Pondo, one example of the legacy of Filipino refugees in Sabah who fleeing the Moro conflict in their home country.[1]
Total population
~80,000
Regions with significant populations
 Malaysia80,000 (UN estimate)[2][note 1]
 Indonesia544 (2014)[7]

Filipino refugees are persons originating from the country of the Philippines. Following the Moro conflict and subsequent major military operation in the islands of Mindanao during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos in 1970s,[8] thousands of Filipinos mainly from the Moro ancestry have seek refuge in neighbouring countries of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, with majority of them mostly heading to the state of Sabah in Malaysia.[9][10]

Reasons for fleeing

Main articles: Moro conflict, Rido, and Abu Sayyaf

Despite the uncertain conflict that happened in the southern Philippines, many of the Filipinos decision to flee are also driven by economic factors and hope for a better lives with many are reluctant to return to their homeland that continues to be torn by violence and kidnappings.[3][8]

Host countries

Malaysia

Since the 1970s, thousands of Filipino refugees have began to infiltrating the state of Sabah, forcing the need for maintenance of the refugees. As Malaysia are not the signatory of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, the country have maintained that any newly arrival aliens are illegal immigrants rather than refugees.[2][11] Although unlike the economically motivated illegal immigrants, the Filipino refugees have long been granted special permission to stay despite limited access to the state employment, social services and public amenities.[10]

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) establish its office in the state in 1977 with around $2.7 million have been allocated for the maintenance of the refugees children education, with most of it been allocated to the Sandakan area.[5] Despite this however, the Philippines side constantly accused the Malaysian side especially the Sabah authorities for victimising the refugees with the dismissal of their workers by Sabah businessmen.[5]

The total of Filipino refugees was only 20,367 in the first quarter of 1970. By 1978, it increased to over 92,000 with a non official estimate put the total already reach 140,000.[6] The refugees rose to over 350,000 in 1989. As there is still no definite sign the conflict will permanently stopped, the influx of Filipino refugees continued even after the peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1976.[6]

Following the government decision to issue residency visas and a special card known as the IMM13 to the refugees, the UNHCR closed its office in 1987 after operating for 10 years.[2][12][13][14] To this date, the main office being mantained in Kuala Lumpur.[15]

Indonesia

As there is no official estimate of the total of Filipino refugees in Indonesia, the exact population is unknown. Recent findings in 2014 found there are at least 544 Filipino refugees (mostly from the Bajau community) taking shelter in Derawan Island, Berau Regency, East Kalimantan.[7] It is believed their presence have began since 2010 with some of the refugees claiming they are Malaysian citizen, although they were found with a special document released by the Malaysian government which stating they are not the citizen of that country during identity check-up by the Indonesian authorities.[16] Responding to the report, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordering them to be sent back to their country in the Philippines immediately,[17] although it is still unknown whether the process of deportation have began. Nunukan Regency in North Kalimantan also reportedly saw a large Filipino refugees presence as recently in early 2017.[18]

Aid

Issues

The UNHCR office in the Malaysian state of Sabah have been giving aid to the refugees for a period of 10 years,[12] however following the closure of its office, many of the refugees have been roaming in and around Sabah.[14] Following the release of report from Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah (RCI) which stated many of the Filipino refugees have illegally obtained Malaysian citizenships, the UNHCR began to monitoring the situation.[19] However, since the UNHCR did not have any permanent presence in the state anymore; the monitoring capacity is limited.[20]

As previously the Philippines did not present or have any intention to establish its own consulate in the Malaysian state of Sabah to look on the welfare of its citizens, the blame was also put to the Philippines side for its lack of co-operation as the country continuously criticising the treatment towards its refugees without giving more of its own efforts to help its own citizens.[21][22]

By the end of 2014, UNHCR Malaysia together with UNICEF plans to support local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct a workshop on birth registration which will be involving different government agencies; such as the Malaysian National Registration Department, local legal practitioners as well as relevant stakeholders.[12] Filipino refugees children also have been enrolled to recently established Alternative Learning Centre (ALC) that was set-up by Filipino volunteers in Sabah with a collaboration with various local NGOs.[23]

By 2016, under the Philippines administration reform of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine government began to signed a deal with the Malaysian government for the gradual repatriation of Filipino refugees in Sabah.[24] The Philippines side also announced their plan to establish a consular office in the state along with the establishment of their own school and hospital to care for their nationals as been recommended previously.[25] However, according to Philippine Representative from Palawan Jose C. Alvarez, they are more interest to establish a Palawan Business Office in the state than Philippine Office that will also giving the similar services like passport granting, renewal of travel documents and other requirements as well extending business assistance to the Filipino people when the need arises, giving excuses that it is only proper and logical to set up the main office if there are increasing number of Filipino traders especially from Palawan.[26]

The Filipinos in the state expressed their hopes that more attention will be given from the Filipino consular services especially on easy and better access in communication facilities, more friendly attitude from embassy officials and staff and transparency in all official transactions as they had repeatedly expressed their dissatisfactions over how the manner of consular missions were conducted with the presence of "middlemen", delays in deliveries of travel documents, difficulties to telephone the main Philippine embassy in Kuala Lumpur and rudeness of some of the embassy officials and staff.[27]

Durable solution

Repatriation

See also: Voluntary return

The Malaysian government are criticised for its contrast policy in dealing with refugees; with different treatments have been compared between the non-Muslim Vietnamese refugees which are quickly being repatriated than the Muslim Filipino refugees which are still being maintained in the country until this day.[6][28] In defending the presence of Filipino refugees, Ghazali Shafie who is the Home Minister at the time justified their position with the support of Deputy Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad:

Their presence will not have adverse effects on the peace and order of the country because they intended to go back whereas the presence of Vietnamese immigrants could have adverse consequences on the country as they had no intention of returning to their homeland after the war.[6]
Ghazali Shafie, Malaysian Home Minister.

Most of the Filipino refugees are issued with IMM13 documents by the Malaysian government during Mahathir administration,[29] with many of them have been controversially naturalised as citizen.[30][28][31]

Repatriation of Filipino refugees remain difficult due to the ongoing conflict in the southern Philippines.[9][32] The latest peace deal between the Government of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a step towards peace and stability in the southern Philippines.[3] The MILF have been welcoming the return of Filipino refugees from Malaysia as the peace is being gradually restored in their homeland.[31] The International Monitoring Team (IMT) led by Malaysia also monitoring the ceasefire between the Philippine government and MILF since 2010 and put hopes that further new administration of the Philippine government will put an end to the refugee issues which have plaguing the bilateral relations between the two countries.[33]

Group such as the MNLF under Nur Misuari have recently staging violent attacks to oppose the peace agreement between the MILF and the Philippine government forces with the latest major attack resulted in the Zamboanga City crisis in late 2013.[34] This presents a definite obstacle to repatriation and led to another new wave of refugees.

Hosting refugees

See also: Refugee camp

There are at least five camps for the Filipino refugees in Malaysia, such as in Kinarut in Papar, Telipok in Kota Kinabalu, Kampung Bahagia in Sandakan, Kampung Selamat in Semporna[13] and Kampung Hidayat in Tawau with many Sabah local politicians have repeatedly urging the closure of the camps and repatriation of the refugees to their home country as the camps have become the source of many criminal activities perpetrated by the refugees.[35]

In late 2016, the Sabah state government submit recommendations to the Malaysian federal government through the Main Committee on Management of Foreigners to move all the refugee placement schemes in the state to other more suitable locations far from the towns and industrial development areas.[36]

Criticism of refugee settlements

The huge Filipino refugee settlements in neighbouring Malaysia have mainly criticised by the locals there for contributing to the significant rise of rampant crimes,[37] with the refugees loyalty towards the country they seeking for refuge are also been questioned for the unstoppable crimes perpetrated from their own community[38] as a Filipino man was recently charged in court as recently in 2017 for supporting the ideology of Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.[39]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 60,000 (2012),[3] 73,000 (2013)[4]
    Positive decrease down from 120,000 (1986)[5] – 350,000 (1989)[6] (Registered refugees)

References

  1. ^ Simon Richmond (2007). Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet. pp. 435–. ISBN 978-1-74059-708-1.
  2. ^ a b c "Submission by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – For the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Compilation Report – Universal Periodic Review: MALAYSIA". United Nations High Commission for Refugees. 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Peace deal sealed but to most Filipino refugees, Malaysia is home". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "73,000 Filipino refugees registered in Sabah". The Borneo Post. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c Eddy Hiew (28 October 1986). "Refugees not being victimised, says UNHCR". New Straits Times. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e Regina Lim (2008). Federal-state Relations in Sabah, Malaysia: The Berjaya Administration, 1976-85. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 114–. ISBN 978-981-230-812-2.
  7. ^ a b Geafry Necolsen; Trinilo Umardini (24 November 2014). "Jumlah Orang Asing di Berau Bertambah jadi 544 Orang" (in Indonesian). Tribun Kaltim. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Aristide R. Zolberg; Astri Suhrke; Sergio Aguayo (10 August 1989). Escape from Violence: Conflict and the Refugee Crisis in the Developing World. Oxford University Press. pp. 175–. ISBN 978-0-19-536362-3.
  9. ^ a b "Sabah fears new influx of Filipinos". New Straits Times. 11 February 1986. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  10. ^ a b Azizah Kassim (2009). "Filipino Refugees in Sabah: State Responses, Public Stereotypes and the Dilemma Over Their Future" (PDF). Southeast Asian Studies. Kyoto University. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  11. ^ Franklin Ng (1998). The History and Immigration of Asian Americans. Taylor & Francis. pp. 177–. ISBN 978-0-8153-2690-8.
  12. ^ a b c "Filipino Refugees in Sabah". United Nations High Commission for Refugees. 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  13. ^ a b Paul Mu (7 December 2014). "Berjaya govt let 73,000 refugees into Sabah". New Sabah Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ a b "UNHCR Sabah office to close". New Straits Times. 17 April 1987. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  15. ^ DI Supaat (2014). "UNHCR Office In Kuala Lumpur" (PDF). South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law. ISSN 2289-1560. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  16. ^ Geafry Necolsen; Trinilo Umardini (25 November 2014). "Manusia Perahu Berdatangan ke Kaltim sejak 2010" (in Indonesian). Tribun Kaltim. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Ahmad Bayasut (26 November 2014). "Jokowi Ingin Pulangkan Manusia Perahu dari Berau" (in Indonesian). Tribun Kaltim. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Niko Ruru; Trinilo Umardini (2 March 2017). "Diduga Banyak Warga Filipina, Imigrasi akan Sisir Pinggiran Sungai" (in Indonesian). Tribun Kaltim. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Filipino Refugees in Sabah". United Nations High Commission for Refugees. 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Filipino Refugees in Sabah". United Nations High Commission for Refugees. 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Manila to blame, says PBS". Daily Express. 15 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Emulate Indonesian govt in taking care of citizens in Sabah, Philippine leaders told". The Rakyat Post. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "DepEd expands educ access for Filipino children in Sabah". Department of Education, Philippines. 10 September 2014. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Pia Ranada (11 November 2016). "PH, Malaysia agree on repatriation of Filipinos in Sabah". Rappler. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Antonio L. Colina IV (25 January 2017). "Cross border trade between Malaysia and ARMM's island provinces to reopen on Feb. 1". Minda News. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Nikko Fabian (16 April 2017). "Palawan plans to set up business office in Sabah". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Nikko Fabian (20 April 2017). "Sabah Filipinos hope for better consular services". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ a b Jia Vern Tham (26 December 2016). "Why do certain refugees get VIP treatment over others in Malaysia?". cilisos.my. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "Apakah Pas IMM 13" (in Malay). Attorney General's Chamber (Malaysia). 11 July 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  30. ^ Kamal Sadiq (2 December 2008). Paper Citizens: How Illegal Immigrants Acquire Citizenship in Developing Countries. Oxford University Press. pp. 47–50. ISBN 978-0-19-970780-5.
  31. ^ a b "Filipino refugees in Sabah urged to go back". Bernama. Daily Express. 20 January 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Solving the Filipino refugee problem". Bernama. New Straits Times. 13 September 1986. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  33. ^ "Philippines Government Urged to Address Refugee Issue". Voice of America. 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ Carmela Fonbuena (25 January 2014). "MNLF will pursue independence, AFP vows to stop 'spoilers'". Rappler. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "Closure of Filipino refugee camps in Malaysia sought". GMA News. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Sabah MPs urge govt to resolve immigrant issue". Bernama. The Brunei Times. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Relocate migrants to border islands: PKR". Daily Express. 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • Tracy Patrick (26 February 2017). "Sleepless nights for Likas residents as thieves get bolder". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "Sabah government to submit recommendations to move refugee placement schemes". Bernama. The Sun. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 8 April 2017 suggested (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ "Pinoy convicted of raping 3 minors in Sabah". GMA News. 10 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Filipino Clad In Scout's Uniform Detained For Raping - Sabah Police Commissioner". Bernama. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Raping girlfriend, 14: Filipino gets 12 years". Daily Express. 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Hotel worker gets 12-year-sentence for raping a minor". The Filipino Times. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Five held over theft at transmission station". Daily Express. 8 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Cops bust robbery, break-in gang". The Borneo Post. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Cops detain 13 people involved in stealing e-components from telcos". The Borneo Post. 8 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • Mardinah Jikur (8 April 2017). "Woman sustains 11 slash wounds in S'kan robbery". Daily Express. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "Man stabbed in attack by eight in Penampang". The Borneo Post. 16 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "Sabah kidnappers may have had inside help". The Standard. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • Allan Nawal (5 November 2015). "Malaysian employers warned in hiring Filipino, foreign staff". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • Ainur Rohmah (27 September 2016). "Indonesia suspects 'spy' helping Abu Sayyaf abductions". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
     • "'Don't use P'pine names for kampungs in Sabah'". Daily Express. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "Charged with supporting Abu Sayyaf". Daily Express. 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Template:History of the Moro conflict

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