FBI HARASSES FILIPINO COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2003
Contact: Rhonda Ramiro, 510/465-9876 ext. 311 or Kawal Ulanday ext. 301

FBI HARASSES FILIPINO COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
Advocates to conduct press conference to protest treatment of immigrants and activists, inform people of their rights and civil liberties

WHAT: Community press conference

DATE & TIME: Friday, February 7, 2003
11 AM

LOCATION: Asian Resource Center
310 - 8th St. (near corner of Harrison St.), 1st Floor Conference Room
Oakland, CA

DETAILS: On Friday, February 7, members of the Filipino community and other activists will speak out against the criminalization of immigrants and social justice activists under the government's rubric of "national security." The press conference was sparked when Kawal Ulanday, a prominent activist in the Filipino and Asian & Pacific Islander communities, was visited on January 30, 2003 by Senior Special Agent William G. Root of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. Agent Root asked Ulanday a series of insinuating questions, including whether Ulanday was associated with any "extremist groups connected to Al-Qaeda" or was "anti-American." Agent Root said that he had received a "tip" which led him to investigate Ulanday's record. According to Agent Root, the FBI receives hundreds of thousands of such tips each day, and that he personally conducts dozens of visits on a daily basis.

Community members are outraged that the FBI conducted this investigation of Ulanday and believe that he was singled out because of his prominent role in anti-war, human rights, and social justice work in the Bay Area and nationwide. Ulanday is a leading organizer in the fight for airport screeners rights, a staff member of Filipinos for Affirmative Action, Co-Director of Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy and Leadership, Education Coordinator of the Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, steering committee member of Asian and Pacific Islander Coalition Against War, and member of Filipinos for Global Justice Not War Coalition.

"It's a hostile act towards my entire family for an FBI agent to come to my home and question me about my origins and if I have terrorist connections," said Ulanday. "I was born here and have no criminal record. Since the 9/11, I am among many people who are committed now more than ever to take a stand for peace and justice not just in America but around the world. Yet we're the ones targeted for harassment by the Bush administration."

"The message the FBI is sending is that anyone who takes a stand against the war or who fights for the rights of immigrants and youth is automatically suspected of being a terrorist," said Rhonda Ramiro, chair of the Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines. "Investigations like these intimidate people, sow distrust, and do nothing to enhance security."

Participating at the press conference will be Kawal Ulanday; Rachel Lederman of the National Lawyers Guild; Heba Nimr of INS Watch; Arnoldo Garcia of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; and a representative of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, San Francisco (invited). Speakers will discuss the implications of the FBI visit for social justice activists and condemn the government's scapegoating of activists and immigrants in general. They will also remind all community members-regardless of immigrant status-of their democratic rights and civil liberties, including the right to refuse to speak to the FBI, INS or police.