Counter-trafficking Efforts In SEA Centre On Raising Awareness, Protecting Human Dignity
KOTA KINABALU(CS/icmc).- In a press conference held with members of the secular media June 24, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) and the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan Human Development Committee (AHDC) shared how they would be intensifying efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking and strengthen the capacity of lcoal organisations involved in counter-trafficking work.
"Sabah is one of the major destinations for trafficking humans from Indonesia, following closely behind Peninsular Malaysia, the Middle East and Hong Kong," said ICMC National Programme Manager Fatimana Agustinanto at the press conference held at the Pacific Sutera Kota Kinabalu.
"We are working closely with the Indonesian government to develop mechanisms to address human trafficking effectively, and are also working with our counterparts in Sabah to address the problems on this side of the border. To tackle this problem, cross border collaboration is a must - between both governments and NGOs," he continued.
He said that with human traffickers continuing to prosper through well- organised rings on both sides of the Indonesian-Malaysian border, including many job placement agencies, coordinated efforts among all stakeholders are essential.
Agustinanto said most trafficking victims in the region are brought to Sabah to work in the plantation, service and entertainment sectors.
Some, he added, are forced to work in the domestic sector as maids, and many are given false promises that it is "all free, accommodation and documents included."
Datuk Jahid Jahim, assistant minister of youth and sports, pointed out that over the past year, Malaysia took "drastic action" to improve the nation's image, and that "targeted efforts have also been made by the government and NGOs to reach out to high-risk communities."
In 2009, Malaysia was downgraded by the US State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) to a "Tier 3" country with a "severe level" of human trafficking.
In June this year, the country was again upgraded to a "Tier 2" (watchlist) in the 10th Annual Trafficking in Persons report issued by GTIP, who provides funding to the joint AHDC-ICMC project Curbing trafficking and debt bondage of Indonesian migrant workers in Sabah.
The yearlong project aims to curb the trafficking and debt bondage of Indonesian women and girls for commercial sexual exploitation, and create a public environment that is conducive to addressing the wider issues of forced labour exploitation.
"As part of this work, we will be carrying out a campaign against human trafficking through radio talk shows and media events, highlighting important issues for youths in Kota Marudu, Tamparuli and Keningau," said AHDC Director Dominic Lim, adding that these are the areas where youth are often targeted by supposed job placement agents.
DJ Othoe, a well-known radio personality with Suria FM, has been selected as Sabah's Champion against Human Trafficking for the campaign carried out by AHDC and ICMC.
Othoe anchors a popular radio programme called Good Morning Sabah and is popular with both local listeners and politicians.
He is known to raise issues of public importance through his programme, and generate public awareness towards sensitive issues and policies through public debate and question-and-answer programmes.
"Trafficking in persons cannot be tackled in one night," said Agustinanto.
"But this is a start, part of an effort that is ongoing and growing," he added.
Enticed by false promises of well-paying jobs, exploited and abused in innumerable ways and separated from their families, 2.4 million men, women and children around the world are estimated to fall victim to human trafficking each year.
Through advocacy and committed collaboration with ICMC members, partners and donors, ICMC's anti-trafficking work focuses on safe, dignified migration as a means of trafficking prevention, and contributes to strengthening victim-centred approaches within national, regional and international policies and assistance mechanisms.
For more information, please contact Ms Alanna Ryan at ryan@icmc.net or Fatimana Agustinanto at agustinanto@icmc.net.
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Broadway Actor Brings To Life Luke's Gospel And Acts
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- Without props or sets, dressed in modern, casual clothing, Broadway actor Bruce Kuhn brought two New Testament books to life through two solo performances recently.
He performed the Gospel of Luke Aug 14 and the Acts of the Apostles Aug 15 at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre Karamunsing.
In the Lukan Gospel performance, Kuhn interweaved the story of Christ with two episodes from St John's Gospel - the Samaritan Woman and the Bread of Life Discourse.
The text is the Authorised (King James) Version.
It premiered at the Actor's Theatre of Louisville (one of America's largest professional theatres) to rave reviews and an extended run.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Kuhn captured the immediacy and relevance of the events of the early Church, collected and edited by Luke as the sequel to his Gospel.
The text is based on Eugene Peterson's translation The Message.
More than 1,000 people - clergy, religious and lay - turned up both nights, among whom were students taking (Luke and Acts) for their SPM examinations.
Before and after the performances, some of the people took the opportunity to ask Kuhn to sign their tickets or CDs (Gospel of Luke) they bought for RM15 per copy or pose for a shot with him.
Prior to his coming to Kota Kinabalu for the first time, Kuhn has performed in Selangor (Aug 6-8) and Singapore (Aug 10) for the third time, the first being in 2004, the second in 2007, according to his manager, Shawn Loorthusamy.
Outgoing SHC Parish Pastoral Council Chairman Damian Lee informed the audience that these performances were organised in line with one of the parish's three top priorities of reaching out to nominal parishioners.
Born in 1955 in Iowa in Midwestern USA, Kuhn received his classical training and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Washington in Seattle under Dr Robert Hobbs, and later trained with Uta Hagen in New York City.
He performed on Broadway in Les Miserables, in the National Tours of Chess and Cotton Patch Gospel and in the resident company of the Actor's Theatre of Louisville in roles as diverse as D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as the Gospel of Luke.
Broadway is the street in New York that has become the worldwide name in theatre entertainment.
Kuhn has been giving solo performances in the last 15 years in universities and churches throughout North America and Europe.
His conference appearances include Urbana (1993, 1996 and 2000), Vision New England Congresses, Keswick Conventions in England, as well as outreaches with Michael Green and Franklin Graham.
Kuhn has taught storytelling at Regent College in Canada, Oxford University in England and for the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in nine countries.
Currently the 54-year-old actor lives with his wife Hetty, a landscape artist and two children, Frits, 8, and Juliette, 6, in Holland.
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LJCCC Celebrates 27th Anniversary
KOTA KINABALU(CS).- The Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community (LJCCC) celebrated its 27th foundation anniversary Aug 1 at the Church of Mary Immaculate Bukit Padang with Mass and a fellowship meal.
Around 300 members - from the three language units (English, Chinese and BM) - turned up for the Mass presided by Archbishop John Lee and later partook in the fellowship meal at the canteen.
The LJCCC was formed on 31 July 1983 at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall with the purpose of making a deeper commitment to God and to one another through a more committed kind of Christian lifestyle and to collectively build an authentic Christian culture and environment to sustain and support their lives together.
The activities of the community consist of a weekly cell group meeting, a General Community Gathering (GCG) twice a month, Devotion to the Holy Spirit once a month, organising formation sessions, retreats, camps for the different age/gender groups (adults [men, women, singles, married], teens, children), conducting marriage and family seminars, inner healing and transformation seminars, outreach to those in need such as the sick and the bereaved, and also to the poor living in remote villages.
Its music ministry serve as choir once a month at the Sunset Mass while others help out in the Alpha Programme on Monday nights and its follow up programmes at the parish centre.
After more than 25 years of existence the community is now in the process of writing its constitution.
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Changing Of The Guard In Tanjung Aru And Labuan
TANJUNG ARU(CS).- Following the decision of Datin Theresa William not to seek re-election as chairperson after occupying the post for over 20 years, Stella Maris Catholic Women's League (SMCWL) has a new committee line up. At its biennial general meeting June 13, Monica Chung was elected to succeed William. The others were Amy Yung (treasurer), Nancy Fong (vice chairperson), Sr Carmen Cardova fsic (spiritual adviser),Helen Goh (asst treasurer), Rosie Oswin, Regina Sham, Serena, Maria Lee (secretary), Betty Ong, Mary Lansing, Mary Delgado and Sylvia Chia.
In Labuan, the women held their meeting July 11 for the election of new office bearers, witnessed by Sr Germaine Angkangon fsic (spiritual adviser) and Anastasia Moduli, chairperson of CWL West Coast 1. The office bearers are: Angeline Jonik (chairperson), Rosie Kenson (vice chairperson), Marie Goretti Francis (secretary), Nancy Wong (asst secretary), Sharon Siew (treasurer) and Rosemarie Molidu (asst treasurer).
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SM Bible Class Students Wash Cars For A Cause
TANJUNG ARU(CS).- The Stella Maris Bible Class (Forms 4 & 5) students washed cars July 25 to raise funds for the class outreach and faith formation programmes.
This activity, held at the church compound, was intended to inculcate the spirit of serving God through serving the Church.
it also developed a stronger sense of bonding among themselves and with the parish community.
The students had a tiring but fun day as they washed 45 cars within five hours.
Many parishioners purchased the coupons without bringing their cars to be washed.
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Tawau Organises Monthlong Programme For Bible Sunday
TAWAU(CS).- The Bible Apostolate of Holy Trinity Church Tawau organised a monthlong programme of activities in conjunction with Bible Sunday July 11, enabling all parish groups to experience, share and celebrate the Word of God.
The Bible Sharing Group (BSG) held a bible quiz for their members to test their bible knowledge while the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) decided to have an imput session on bible knowledge followed by a colouring contest for children.
The catechetical ministry had a half-day workshop on Journey to Salvation based on the Old Testament whereby the participants from the Sunday School, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), Christian Initiation of Children (CIC), Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) and others were given a detailed input and activities concerning the books and events as contained in the Old Testament.
The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) and Catholic Women's Apostolate (CWA) jointly screened a movie on St Francis and St Clare of Assisi on different days. The youths organised an Amazing Scripture Race for the old and the young where participants were required to get clues from scriptural quotations, crossing several obstacles to reach their destination.
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