This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 44, December
11-17, 2005
4 Anti-WTO Filipino Activists
Detained in HK
Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño threatens to file diplomatic protest
against the Hong Kong government if more Filipinos will be barred from entering
Hong Kong for the anti-World Trade Organization (WTO) activities.
BY
BULATLAT Bayan Muna Representative
Teddy Casiño threatens to file diplomatic protest against the Hong Kong
government if more Filipinos will be barred from entering Hong Kong for the
anti-World Trade Organization (WTO) activities. The Hong Kong government
heightened security measures because of the 6th WTO ministerial meeting slated
on Dec. 13-15. Casiño said it was “directed against activists primary coming
from workers and peasants organizations whose respective memberships and
representations have serious charges against the WTO.” "This is harassment and
tantamount to curtailment of political rights to express dissent,” Casiño said.
“The Hong Kong authorities have no right to arrest visitors to Hong Kong if they
choose to become involved in the popular protests and other activities that seek
to expose the WTO meeting for what it really is: a gathering of the world's top
exploiters." Based on a Dec. 9 statement
signed by Araullo, the HK immigration officials refused to answer their
questions on why they were being held. Araullo and company were detained and
interrogated separately upon arrival from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Their bags were
also searched for anti-WTO materials before they were released, she said in the
statement. ILPS, RESIST! and Bayan
contingents will be one of the biggest delegations from overseas for the PAW. Meanwhile, Bayan
spokesperson Renato Reyes said that an article in the Sunday Morning Post
in Hong Kong revealed that 300 WTO protesters have been “blacklisted”. The list,
though never officially acknowledged, was said to have been supplied by the
Interpol. Prominent figures present during the WTO protests in Seattle and the
recent APEC protests in South Korea are said to be on the list. Persons in the
list will allegedly be denied entry to Hong Kong and taken to Victoria Prison.
The WTO conference will be held at Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The official
representatives of 200 governments all over the world are expected to attend the
WTO. But also set to converge in Hong Kong are workers, farmers and members of
other marginalized sectors from underdeveloped countries to speak out against
the WTO and its devastating impact on their lives and welfare. © 2005 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Solon
threatens to file diplomatic protest
Among those held were Dr. Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan
or national patriotic alliance) chairperson, Elisa Lubi of the International
League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) and Gabriela women’s group, and Norma Binas
of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement) who were detained on Dec. 8,
and Danilo Ramos of the Kilusang Magbubulid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Philippine
Peasant Movement) who was detained Dec. 9. The first three were reportedly
harassed, detained and subjected to interrogation for about seven hours by HK
authorities while Ramos was held for three hours. All four are set to
participate in the coming People’s Action Week (PAW) led by the HK People’s
Alliance on WTO (HKPA), a parallel activity to the ministerial conference.
”This is clearly a move by the HK government to intimidate overseas protesters
and prevent them from expressing their sentiments against the upcoming trade
talks,” Araullo said.
WTO meetings have drawn wide protests in the past because of what is believed to
be exploitative and oppressive trade practices of industrialized countries. Some
protests were aimed at stopping previous rounds of negotiations that will
further liberalize poorer economies.
So far, the groups that have figured in incidents with the HK immigration are
Koreans and Filipinos while a peasant from the group Via Campesina in Brazil was
also briefly detained before being allowed entry to HK. Bulatlat