“It is absolutely untrue that workers were told to be quiet,” Boni V. Sagana, Dekada Movement president, told Variety.
He said they met with Siemer on Saturday to discuss the comprehensive immigration reform that will be proposed by President Obama next year.
Human rights advocate Wendy Doromal, in her Unheard No More online forum, said she was told that that Siemer advised guest workers not to sign the petition for improved status and to be “quiet.”
In exchange, Doromal said Siemer promised to fight for “their cause.”
The former Rota teacher said guest workers should not trust Siemer.
But attorney Steve Woodruff who was present during the meeting with Siemer said the information that reached Doromal was “distorted.”
“It’s nothing like the way described by Wendy,” he said.
Everyone remains free to sign the petition, he added.
The other leaders of guest worker groups, Rabby Syed, Jun Concillado and Ronnie Doca, were not in the meeting.
Sagana said Siemer only stated her views on “what works and what does not as she always does in the many consultations she has had with the group.”
“She did this entirely on her own initiative and did not set any conditions. She was also completely open about what the governor’s goals are. She believes attacking the governor or holding big demonstrations creates a political backlash that can result in the CNMI government actively opposing worker goals.”
Siemer could not be reached for comment.
Human Dignity Movement president Itos Feliciano said the “only solution” is to give nonresidents permanent status.
Sagana said guest workers have a better chance of getting improved status within the framework of national immigration reform.
“Better not have the governor fighting you — it’s better not to provoke him into opposition,” he added.
But Sagana said they have no deal with the governor or Siemer.
She made it clear that the governor would not actively support improved status for aliens in the CNMI, Sagan said.
Woodruff, for his part, emphasized that guest workers should constantly reevaluate the situation and pursue their objectives in the most effective way based on continuous reassessment.
