Manila, Sep 28 (DPA) The Philippines has barred more than 500 human rights, labour and political activists from entering the country, alleging that they have links to terrorist organizations, an international human rights watchdog said Friday.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch said it has obtained a list by the Bureau of Immigration and the Department of Justice banning 504 people with “al-Qaeda/Taliban links” from entering the Philippines in July and August.
The blacklist includes individuals from more than 50 countries, including expatriate Filipinos and members of such US-based organizations as the Church World Service, the National Lawyers Guild and the Centre for Constitutional Rights.
“The Philippine government has the right and duty to protect its citizens from genuine security threats,” said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “But labelling peaceful critics as Al Qaeda or Taliban only serves to sap public confidence in counter-terror measures and exposes them as a cover for suppressing dissent.”
Richardson said some of those on the blacklist, including Ramsey Clark, a former US attorney general, have previously visited the Philippines to help victims of human rights violations allegedly committed by the Philippine armed forces.
Human Rights Watch noted the Philippine government did not publicly announce the blacklist when it was put into force in July ahead of regional meetings of the Association of South-East Asian Nations in Manila.
“It is not clear whether this or any other blacklist is in effect at present,” it added.
The group urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her government to clarify whether any blacklists were now in effect and to make a commitment to end such bans on non-violent government critics.