It's a go for 'historic' Unity March

st-Local Friday, December 07, 2007 By Ferdie de la TorreReporter


Rain or shine, everything is set for today's historic Unity March and organizers expect a big turnout for the event, heralded as a show of unity against the new labor reform law, support for federalization of the CNMI's immigration system, and a call for improved status for long-term alien workers.Human rights advocate Wendy Doromal flew from Florida to join representative-elect Tina Sablan and other organizers and supporters during a news briefing yesterday at a pavilion along Beach Road, Garapan.The United Filipino Organization, an umbrella organization of 28 different Filipino organizations, finally broke its silence on the issues with the appearance of its president, Ramon Awit, at the conference.Organizers said Tinian and Rota will also conduct their own Unity March on the same day and time.David B. Cohen, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs, says that Washington, D.C. is watching the ongoing debate over immigration federalization in the Commonwealth to understand the different opinions being expressed.Besides Sablan, Doromal, and Awit, also present at the news briefing were Dekada Movement counsel Stephen Woodruff, MP Magazine publisher Ed Propst, Dekada president Bonifacio Sagana, Human Dignity Movement president Jerry Custodio, Rabby F. Syed of the Bangladeshi community, activist Malou Berueco, and other leaders of various organizations.“The Unity March will take place, rain or shine,” said Sablan.'Hundreds, even thousands'The assembly will start at 4:30pm at Kilili Beach and will march all the way to the American Memorial Park.Sablan advised motorists to exercise caution when driving along Beach Road between Kilili Beach and American Memorial Park from 4:30pm and 9pm.“There are expected to be hundreds or thousands of demonstrators, including children, walking along the street and pathway up to Quartermaster Road,” she said.Before 7pm, the Department of Public Safety will be closing the northbound lane of Beach Road just after Quartermaster Road and marchers will move up the street to the American Memorial Park.To keep the spirit of the demonstrators up, Sablan said local musicians Steve Sablan and Floyd Lim from the Big Beats Band have volunteered to perform throughout the march. Other musicians have also been invited to perform, she said.She advised participants to wear white shirts as a symbol of peace and to bring water, flashlights, and umbrellas.“Placards and banners have been prepared for the march. Participants are also invited to bring their own placards and banners indicating the message(s) they wish to convey, the organizations they are representing, etc.,” Sablan said.Organizers asked that all signs must promote the spirit of unity and peaceful expression.Transportation will be provided to and from the march for those who need it. Pick-ups will be at San Antonio basketball court and Garapan basketball court beginning at 4pm.The Bangladeshi community offered 10 taxicabs-available for free-for the event.Sablan said people who are unable to march the entire length from Kilili Beach to the American Memorial Park are encouraged to ride in the convoy or to simply go straight to the Park to meet with the marchers for the closing ceremony.Lots of interest“All members of the community, of all ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, religions, and occupations, are called to join in the historic and peaceful Unity March,” Sablan said.Sablan said they are expecting a lot of people to join based on what she has been hearing throughout the community.“There's a lot of interest and a lot of support from different sectors, public and private sectors, different cultural organizations, businesses, so we think maybe over a thousand [will attend],” she said.No matter how many people show up, Sablan said, the most important point is that “this is a very historic occasion.”“This is the very first time that people from throughout the community have decided to come together calling for fair and just immigration and labor reform that will benefit all workers in the CNMI,” she said.Doromal invited all the people in the CNMI to join the march-whether businesses, non-profit organizations for guest workers, different religions and cultures.“It's all about unity and nothing will happen on the island if it's not united. I think that the nonresident workers and residents of the islands, their lives and their work are intertwined and that they can't be separated. So I hope everyone will come together for this march,” Doromal said.Awit said UFO would not be engaged in any political issues, but that he really admires Sablan and Doromal for their efforts in organizing the march.“And I believe that the purpose of this event in general is for the whole community in this island. So I will support it not only as the leader of an umbrella organization in this island but as an individual also,” Awit said.Sagana and Custodio said they are very happy that many other organizations and locals have come forward and expressed their support.Sablan will be the opening speaker. The speakers at the closing of the event will be federal ombudsman Jim Benedetto, Doromal, attorney Mark Hanson, Ed Propst, Lupe Manglona, among many others.Close attentionCohen said the Bush administration supports the rights of people in the Commonwealth to express their views.“Many of us in Washington are paying attention to the very important discussion that is going on in the CNMI right now,” he said. “We want to understand the different opinions that are being expressed about federalization and other issues. That will help us in our effort to be fair to everyone, which will be quite a challenge because of the diversity of opinion that exists from the Commonwealth.”Cohen expressed disbelief that the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens in the Commonwealth oppose federal takeover of local immigration.“I have spent a great deal of time in the Commonwealth talking to countless people, and I know for a fact that this is not true. Many U.S. citizens strongly oppose federalization, but there are also many who strongly support it and many who have mixed feelings,” he said.He added that the administration supports federalization for many reasons. One of those reasons is that the current system failed to provide jobs for the Chamorro and Carolinian workers.“We have urged Congress to take the interests of the indigenous population into account. We have also urged Congress to be mindful of the contributions of the guest workers who have been so instrumental in building up the Commonwealth,” he said.“We hope that people will realize that they are all in the same boat, and that people with different backgrounds and different views will work together to find solutions that are fair to everyone,” he added. (With Agnes Donato)