Ramos buries hatchet with Singapore
Related: Maid death protest mars Goh's visit

SINGAPORE and Philippine leaders yesterday declared a fresh start in bilateral ties darkened for two years by the hanging of a Filipina maid.

Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told a state banquet that both nations had gone through "a difficult patch", but a "reservoir of goodwill . . . stood us in good stead".

"I'm here to make up for lost time," he earlier told a news conference with President Fidel Ramos, referring to the execution of the maid, which ignited nationwide anger and a freeze on Singaporean investment in the Philippines.

Flor Contemplacion was sent to the gallows on March 17, 1995, for killing a fellow Filipina and a Singaporean boy.

There were small protests by left-wing groups in Manila against Mr Goh. But he told businessmen: "Singapore looks forward to building a stronger economic partnership with the Philippines."

And Mr Ramos said the Philippines was "highly pleased that, over these past months, we have not only mended the tear in the fabric of our friendship - we have also nurtured a new climate of mutual trust".

They also reaffirmed a decision to vote for the admission of Burma, Cambodia and Laos into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month.

"We know the United States and Europe are unhappy, but in the absence of a better alternative in dealing with the problem, we will push ahead with constructive engagement," Mr Goh said, referring to the West's revulsion at alleged human rights abuses by Rangoon's junta.