[asia-apec 197] RP to Bar 100 "trouble makers"
alarm
alarm at pw.net
Sat Oct 26 22:37:40 JST 1996
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.
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