Ron Smith, who signed the petition during the signature drive conducted by the United Workers Movement, NMI at the Sabalu Market on Saturday, said he wanted to “stop a great injustice.”
The federalization law, Smith said, is a “human rights catastrophe in the making” in CNMI.
“This is in violation of the Covenant,” he told Variety.
The United Workers Movement, NMI initiated the petition signing as IRs are in trouble of losing their status when the federalization law take effect on June 1 this year.
The IRs are willing to apply for green cards but they don’t have sufficient funds to pay the application fees.
Smith said he supported the lawsuit filed by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial against the federal government, and the proposal to delay for 180 days the implementation of the federalization law.
Rabby Syed, United Workers Movement, NMI, president, said 50 IRs signed the petition at Sabalu Market.
As of press time, they had gathered over 140 signatures.
The group, he said, has already sent copies of the petition to Rota and Tinian, and is hoping to gather 350 signatures by the end of February.
Syed said their group will continue to gather signatures during the Thursday market in Garapan and in Sabalu Market in Susupe this Saturday.
“We’re encouraging local residents to also support our petition,” Syed said yesterday.
He can be reached through telephone number 285-3306 and e-mail address [email protected].
He said the group supports Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan’s proposed 180-day delay in the implementation of the federalization law because this will give guest workers and IRs more time to work for their improved status.
He added that there are many concerns that need to be addressed before the federalization law can be implemented.
