[asia-apec 236] HK groups on Horta affair

[Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives (ARENA)]

What follows is the letter sent to President Ramos by NGOs based in HK on
the Jose Ramos Horta affair.

**************************************************************************

6 November 1996

President Fidel Ramos
Malacanang Palace
Manila, Philippines

Dear President Ramos:

The undersigned non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with headquarters
in Hong Kong urge you to rescind your order refusing a Philippine visa to
Professor Jose Ramos Horta (this year's Nobel Peace co-laureate) and other
human rights campaigners who wish to participate in the Manila People's
Forum on APEC (MPFA) or any other APEC-related NGO parallel activity.

We view with serious apprehension the fact that your decision was
influenced more by concern for Indonesian President Suharto's psychological
and political well-being rather than the interests of the peoples in the Asia
Pacific region. As a sovereign nation, the Philippines should be guided in its
actions by the higher principle of democratic participation in all matters that
affect the lives of its people. It goes without saying that the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a matter that concerns all citizens of its
member economies, not just governments and big business. 

The various NGO initiatives on APEC such as the MPFA are attempts of
civil movements to highlight the issues that they feel will not be given
attention during the official meetings such as labour and migrant rights,
gender and women's rights, democratic governance, and environment and
social concerns. In order to achieve the best possible atmosphere for a frank
and open discussion to take place, we must have the widest possible
participation from all affected sectors, groups, and communities in the Asia
Pacific. By depriving these forums of the presence of Mr. Ramos Horta your
government is attempting to stifle the voices of the East Timorese people
whose rights to self determination have been consciously violated all these
years. In effect, your government becomes party to the violation of the civil,
political, and human rights of the East Timorese people.

Your government's action is rendered more incongruous by the fact that (like
almost all members of the United Nations), the Philippines does not
recognise Indonesia's claim to sovereignty over East Timor. Unless there has
been a private agreement between you and Mr. Suharto on this matter, we
urge you to stand by the official Philippine government position on the status
of East Timor.

We have seen how in the case of the SLORC regime in Burma and its
application for ASEAN membership, you have taken the lead in drawing
attention to the rights of the Burmese people to a democratic government.
We are encouraged by this position and we ask that, at the very least,  you
likewise extend  the same courtesy to the East Timorese people and Asia
Pacific peoples in general and allow their representatives to come to Manila
for the NGO parallel meetings on APEC.

Yours truly,

Bart Shaha, Secretary General, Asia Alliance of YMCAs
Basil Fernando, Executive Director, Asian Human Rights Commission
Rex Varona, Research Coordinator, Asian Migrant Centre
Leong Pou Lam, Executive Director, Asia Monitor Resource Centre
Ed Tadem, Coordinator, Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives
Shum Yun Shan, Secretariat, Committee for Asian Women
Lakshmi Daniel, Research Director, Documentation for 
     Action Groups in Asia
Keshav Pandey, Secretary, Asian Students Association
Anthony Raj, Regional Coordinator, International Young Christian 
     Workers (Asia Pacific)
S. Samydorai - Asian Centre for the the Progress of Peoples - Hotline Desk
Tarsi Fernando - People's Plan 21 - Secretariat
Lau Kin Chi, Executive Committee, China Social Services and 
     Development Research Centre