[asia-apec 195] URGENT/ APEC BLACKLIST/

[sonny at nation.nationgroup.com]

FOR CIRCULATION
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MANILA , Saturday, Oct 26, 1996 -- Kyodo News Agency

Philippine immigration authorities will ban the entry of 100 foreigners
who are scheduled to attend a non-governmental organisation's forum that
will coincide with the November summit of Apec, local reports said
Saturday.

Among those on the blacklist are Japanese Bishop Aloisus Nobuo Soma, South
African Bishop Desmond Tutu and former French first lady Danielle
Mitterrand.

A Portuguese couple, Marcelo and Luisa Perreira, whose books delve into
Indonesia's repression in East Timor, are also on the list, the Philippine
Daily Inquirer reported.

The government earlier denied the visa application of this year's Nobel
Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta, a leading figure in East Timor's
quest for independence from Indonesia. The blacklisted foreigners were
invited to the Manila People's Forum on Apec, which will run parallel with
the official Apec meetings culminating with the leaders' summit on Nov 25.

President Fidel Ramos, explaining Manila's decision to ban the entry of
Ramos-Horta and other foreigners, said Friday that "with due respect to
our friends from abroad, we honour and respect those who have attained
international recognition."

"We would not, however, want to expose them to embarrassment and possible
disturbances which might arise from their presence in Manila at the time
we are having the Apec meeting," he told reporters through a
teleconference in Washington.