[asia-apec 322] On Canadian PM Chretien's visit to the Philippines

[mario mapanao]

Date: Mon, 20 Jan 1997 03:35:57 +0800
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Subject: Newsclip on Canadian PM Chretien's visit
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Philippine Daily Inquirer - Jan.17, 1997 (Front page story)

Chretien ends 3-day RP visit

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien left the country for Bangkok after a
three day visit aimed at broadening economic and diplomatic relations.
Prior to his departure, he was greeted by a picket of 20 (actually  50)
leftist activists outside his hotel, protesting  against an incident last
March when tailings from a mine, partly owned by a Canadian firm, spilled
into a  river in Marinduque province.

The protesters dispersed peacefully after a few minutes. 

On Tuesday, Chretien and President Ramos discussed cooperation in
surveillance of coastal areas, energy, environmental protection, tourism and
telecommunications.

The two, witnessed the signing of an agreement to open direct air links
between the two countries. Philippine and Canadian businessmen signed
$505.58 million worth of agreements on Wednesday.

All but one of Canada's  10 provincial premiers, a territorial leader and
nearly 400 chief executives of Canadian companies accompanied Chretien on
the visit.

Romulo, who now chairs the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co., said the
just concluded visit had shown  that the Philippines "has arrived."

"In a sense, it says that we have arrived," Romulo said following a meeting
between senior business and financial leaders  and Chretien at the Manila
Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

He said that in the past, the Philippine government would go to Canada to
look for trade and investment opportunities but now, Canada was the one that
came to its shores wanting to do business.

Former President Corazon Aquino, who also met Chretien yesterday, said the
Canadian Prime minister" really and honestly admires what the President
Ramos has done for the country."

Just a compliment

Aquino said Chretien  was merely complimenting Mr. Ramos when he said that
the international community would be disappointed if he will not run again
for office.

"It was just a compliment and he would have done the same thing  if I were
on my last term in office'" she said.

On Wednesday, Chretien stepped into a touchy issue when he commented before
a business forum that he was disappointed that  President Ramos is unable to
seek reelection.

"I would like to tell you that the world community would be disappointed
that you cannot run again  because you have gained a lot of respect around
the world  and we  all admire you for yours good work," Chretien told Mr. Ramos.

Mr. Ramos, elected  in 1992, is limited to one six-year term by the 1987
Constitution. Church and opposition leaders are blocking attempts by
supporters of Mr. Ramos to change the Charter to allow him to run again.

Another hitch in the Canadian's  visit was the protest  action staged by the
militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)
criticizing Chretien's free trade and globalization policies.

Shouting "imperialists," the leftist activists staged a die-in in front of
the hotel where the Canadian Prime minister  and other trade mission
delegates were staying.

The union and student activists  also criticized last year's massive spill
of mining waste at a copper mine owned by Placer Dome, a Canadian company.

"We are here not only to protest the Canadian capitalists' hunting
expedition in the Philippines but also to join Canadian workers against
Chretien's free trade and globalization policies," labor leader Crispin
Beltran said during the 30-minute protest.

The activists opposed the free trade policies of the 18-nation Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which the Philippines  led last year  and
Canada chairs this year.

They marched near the hotel entrance with placards marked "People of Canada,
Junk Apec," and staged a die-in  when a police officer tried to stop them.
Several policemen  and a number of Canadian security officers stood by.

Beltran also said the "majority of Filipinos, especially the workers, have
nothing to gain but more environmental problems, more exploitation  and more
foreign bosses" with the entry of additional Canadian investments. 


With reports from Christine Avendano, Rocky Nazareno, Rita Villadiego, AF, AFP