[asia-apec 202] Bangkok appeal for Jose Ramos-Horta

[sonny at nation.nationgroup.com]

BANGKOK GROUP APPEALS FOR JOSE RAMOS-HORTA'S ENTRY
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Saturday, Oct 26, 1996:

A Bangkok-based human rights group urged Philippine President Fidel Ramos
to reconsider his decision to ban the entry into the Philippines of Nobel
Peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta.

"One man cannot destroy a true democracy. This is the time true democracy
can be put to a test," Forum Asia said in an open letter to President
Ramos.

Signed by the forum's secretary-general Somchai Homla-or, the letter noted
that this was the second time Mr Horta had been barred from entering the
Philippines, following the first ban during the first Asia-Pacific
Conference on East Timor held in Manila in 1994. 

"We in the Asian region have looked looked up to the Philippines as a
democratic country with high regard for the rule of law and respect for
human rights," the letter added.

"We do not like to think you are doing this (barring Mr Horta's entry)
because of the pressure of Indonesia, whose rule in East Timor has caused
so much misery to its people," the letter stated.

"Mr Horta, together with his fellow Nobel Peace prize awardee Bishop
Carlos Ximenes Belo and all the other groups and individuals advocating
human rights and self-determination for East Timor, are men and women
working for peace for their homeland," added the letter.

"Putting restricitions on peaceful activities related to East Timor and
Indonesia is closing the door for the peaceful resolution of the conflict
in East Timor," it said.

"We believe the Asean governments have an obligation to support all
efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

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Further information:

Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development

Tel:662-2769846-7, Fax:662-2762183, 2754230
e-mail:chalida at mozart.inet.co.th