Farmers' spokesman detained at airport

An activist from the Philippines was detained and questioned for nearly three hours yesterday as the authorities tightened security at Chek Lap Kok airport.

Farmer Danilo Ramos, 49, secretary-general of the Manila-based Asian Peasant Coalition, said he was asked to stand aside at immigration and sent to a room for questioning.

Six other Filipinos on the same Cebu Pacific flight had a trouble-free entry, said Eman Villanueva, spokesman of the Asian Migrants Co-ordinating Body.

The news came as passengers on a Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific flight from Singapore last night said they had been told before landing yesterday afternoon that they should have their passports ready for inspection - by police - before clearing customs.

Mr Ramos is the fourth leading activist to be questioned at the airport.

Three other Filipinos were held on Thursday for 61/2 hours.

'I was asked who invited me, why I am here, who shouldered my expenses, what particular activities would I join,' Mr Ramos said.

He told the six immigration officers who questioned him that he was a farmer from a peasant's organisation and would join the Rice Festival and trade-related WTO issues that had an adverse impact on farmers.

The Rice Festival, which starts today at Victoria Park, will include a food fair based on the grain. It is co-organised by the Malaysian-based Pesticide Action Network Asia-Pacific, the Save Our Rice Campaign and the People's Coalition on Food Sovereignty.

'I told them that the role of the farmers and rural people was important for the WTO meeting,' Mr Ramos said.

The Post also has learned the Hong Kong government has leased two planes to fly WTO delegates out of the city in case of an emergency.