[asia-apec 197] RP to Bar 100 "trouble makers"

[alarm]

RP TO BAR 100 "TROUBLEMAKERS":  BISHOP TUTU HEADS OF APEC BLACKLIST

By: Rocky Nazareno and Cynthia D. Balana
Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer, 26 Oct. 1996, Page 1

What do Daniel Mitterrand, wife of the former president of France, 
Japanese Bishop Aloisus Nobuo Soma, South African Bishop Desmond 
Tutu, and Portuguese educators Marcelo and Luisa Perreira have in 
common?  They are all "potential trouble makers", from the viewpoint 
of the Filipino Officials.

As such, they are among at least 100 people from 18 nations whom the 
Philippine government banned from entering the country, lest they 
disrupt the Asia-Pacific economic Cooperation summit late next month.

Immigration officials were told to watch out for them after the Ramos 
administration rejected the Visa application of East-Timorese 
resistance leader and Nobel prize co-winner Jose Ramos-Horta. But 
trouble-making may be the least thing on the minds of these eminent 
personages.

The worst they can do is to steal the thunder from the APEC leaders 
by attending the alternative gathering, The Manila Peoples' Forum on 
APEC.

For Filipino Officials, however, that's trouble enough.  Among other 
issues, the MPFA 96 will tackle the plight of East Timor, the former 
Portuguese colony that Indonesia invaded in December 1975 and later 
annexed as its 27th province.

Stoking that sensitive issue can embarrass Indonesian President 
Suharto, one of the leaders attending the 18-nation APEC summit.  An 
Filipino officials, anxious to play their hosting role to the hilt, 
appear bent on sparing the Indonesian Leader the littlest 
inconvenience.

Explaining the ban on Ramos-Horta, President Ramos yesterday said the 
Nobel Laureate was not really a threat to the security of the state 
leaders attending the APEC conference but his presence could 
jeopardize the Philippines' preparations for the event.

COME ANOTHER TIME

In a tele-conference with members of the US National Press Club in 
Washington DC., The President said Ramos-Horta might be allowed to 
come here after the APEC summit.  Referring to the East Timorese 
leader and other people invited to the alternative forum, he said: 
"With due respect from our friends abroad, we honor and respect those 
that have attained  international recognition.  We would not, 
however, want to expose them embarrassment and possible disturbances 
which might arise from their presence in Manila at the time we are 
having the APEC meeting."
"So maybe, (they can come) some other time," the president said.


"It is to our national interest to have a successful and productive 
1996 APEC Meeting," he stressed. "Security in the physical sense is 
not very much involve here."
The President explained: "We've worked hard for the last 10 months to 
ensure a harmonious regime here In the Philippines in order that we 
can be seen as complying with our hosting and providing hospitality 
and harmony for our colleagues."

He recalled that a government ban on Ramos-Horta's entry here was 
questioned before the Supreme Court in 1994.  The high court upheld 
the government action.

CABINET CLUSTER E

The 100 potential trouble makers whose names were contained in a list 
submitted Cabinet Cluster E to the Bureau of Immigration, were 
classified under three categories: Those who attended the 
Asia-pacific conference on East Timor (APCET) here in 1994; those 
involved in similar forums; and those invited by the Manila People's 
Forum.

The list includes nationals from France, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, 
Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, the Netherlands, New 
Zealand, Portugal, Mexico, Nicaragua and Taiwan.

Ms. Mitterand was refused entry during the 1994 APCET.  Bishop Nobuo 
Soma's church in Japan has given refuge to distress Filipinas. 
Marcelo and Luisa Perreira have written books criticizing the 
Indonesian government for human rights violation in East Timor.

Indonesia's annexation of East Timor has been widely criticized in 
the international community and has never been recognized by the UN.

VISA CAMPAIGN

Unfazed by the government action against Ramos Horta and other 
foreign nationals, the Manila People's Forum on APEC vowed to solicit 
international and local endorsements to persuade the Ramos 
Administration to grant the east Timorese leader a Philippine Visa.

The international campaign is now being waged in at least four 
countries, forum organizers said. Aside from the campaign, Omi 
Royandoyan, MPFA coordinator said, they would question the legality 
of the ban before the Supreme Court.

Ramos-Horta was invited to be the keynote speaker at the alternative 
forum.  "The government had no firm basis for denying the Nobel 
laureate entry into the country." Royandoyan said.

MPFA International Convenor, Walden Bello said MPFA delegates across 
the Asia-Pacific would urge APEC- members governments not to attend 
the APEC summit should the Philippine Government insist on banning 
Ramos-Horta.

He warned the Ramos administration might find itself at the 
"loosing-end" should it continue giving in to pressure from the 
Indonesian government on the Issue.

SYMPATHY FOR RAMOS-HORTA

Royandoyan said there was a "great" deal of sympathy within 
APEC-member countries for Ramos-Horta's cause and that the on-going 
conflict in East Timor also affected the security in the Asia-Pacific 
region.

"Mr. Ramos-Horta's sole intention in coming to the Philippines is to 
maximize support for efforts to begin peace processes with the 
Indonesian government" he said. "How can he be a threat to the 
Philippine interest, much less to national security?"

Organizers of the Alternative forum described the ban on 
Ramos-Horta's entry as a "blow" to the Philippine Democracy.