Fidel Ramos defends APEC security preparations in RP<\/p>\n
SUBIC, Philippines (AFP): President Fidel Ramos yesterday
\ndefended security measures for the summit of the Asia Pacific
\nEconomic Cooperation (APEC) forum, saying the country had \"the
\nright to take actions if peace is at stake.\"<\/p>\n
Ramos, speaking at the inauguration of the new airport
\npassenger terminal at Subic Bay, where the summit will be held,
\nwas responding to accusations of human rights violations and
\nmilitarization raised by leftist groups threatening to disrupt
\nthe APEC summit.<\/p>\n
Among other things, the government banned dozens of foreign
\nactivists from entering the country during the summit, including
\nEast Timorese independence activist Jose Ramos Horta, winner of
\nthe 1996 Nobel Peace Prize.<\/p>\n
Ramos welcomed dissenting views on issues involving APEC, but
\nsaid that his government \"have the right to take actions if peace
\nis at stake.\"<\/p>\n
\"We can assure all APEC delegations, whether government or
\nfrom the private sector ... complete safety, comfort, hospitality
\nand a harmonious kind of environment that will make everyone more
\nfriendly and productive,\" Ramos said.<\/p>\n
The Philippines government views the APEC summit as a showcase
\nand Filipino businessman Antonio Trillo was reported yesterday to
\nhave spent up to US$300 million to renovate the Summit Hall,
\nwhich includes a Moslem prayer room, and to construct a 12-
\nbuilding complex of hotels in Subic.<\/p>\n
The 18 APEC leaders and representatives will be housed in 21
\nvillas specially constructed for the APEC summit, a five-minute
\ndrive from the Summit Hall.<\/p>\n
\"Although we are 100 percent sure that the leaders are fully
\nsecured, we do not want to compromise their safety once they
\ndecide to travel back to their respective villas to be able to
\npray,\" said Trillo.<\/p>\n
Chefs, waiters, and concierges who will be assigned to the
\nsummit have been thoroughly subjected to background checks to
\nmake sure there will be no attempts to \"sabotage\" the leaders'
\nfood, Trillo said in a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.<\/p>\n
Twenty of the Philippines' leading doctors have been \"assigned
\nas full time, close-in physicians\" to the APEC leaders and
\nrepresentatives, the report said.<\/p>\n
The new Subic international airport terminal cost $12.6
\nmillion and was constructed in nine months by a joint Filipino-
\nJapanese venture, Summa Kumagai Inc.<\/p>\n
The terminal can handle 700 passengers at any time and is
\nequipped with the latest anti-terrorist security systems and
\nnavigational and radar systems partly funded by a World Bank
\nloan, Subic authorities said.<\/p>\n
APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
\nKong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
\nGuinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
\nand the United States.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fidel-ramos-defends-apec-security-preparations-in-rp-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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