[van-announce] Statement to Dutch consulate in Vancouver

[B.C. Commitee for Human Rights in the Philippines]

Justice for Professor Jose Maria Sison!
Stop the U.S.-led political witch hunt!
16 September 2002

As overseas Filipinos in Canada, we stand here today before the Dutch
consulate in Vancouver to appeal to the Dutch government to end its
political persecution of a Filipino progressive living in the Netherlands,
Professor Jose Maria Sison.  We are here to demand that the Dutch government
defy the U.S. government’s wish to suppress and silence Professor Sison.  We
appeal to all freedom and peace-loving people for your support in these
troubling times.

The Filipino people are in urgent need of your support and solidarity.  As
the U.S.-led international ‘war against terrorism’ tightens its grip on the
Philippines, the Filipino people’s legitimate aspirations for genuine
freedom and democracy are now under the gun.   Since the tragedy of
September 11th, Filipinos the world over have become the unjust targets of
the ‘terrorism’ hysteria puffed up by the U.S.-led international ‘war on
terrorism’.

On August 9, 2002, US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced the
inclusion of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army
(CPP/NPA) on its so-called list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The CPP
and NPA are major allied organizations within the National Democratic Front
of the Philippines which represents a legitimate national liberation
movement that has been struggling to uphold, defend and advance the national
democratic aspirations of the Filipino people against the foreign domination
of U.S. imperialism and the local exploitation of the Philippine ruling
elite.

The U.S. inclusion of CPP and NPA on its ‘terrorist’ list has given the U.S.
a blank cheque to dispense terror tactics in an attempt to suppress the
democratic desires of the Filipino people for genuine freedom and just and
lasting peace.  Underhandedly using its ‘international war on terrorism’,
the U.S. has branded the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations to launch a
systematic campaign of all-out war and terror to suppress any political
dissent among the Filipino people.

The Dutch, British, and Canadian governments quickly went along with U.S.
imperialism’s wishes and placed the CPP and NPA on their foreign ‘terrorist’
lists.

In the Netherlands, where the International Office of the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is located, the Dutch government
has ordered that the bank accounts of the CPP, NPA, and current political
consultant of the NDFP, Professor Jose Maria Sison, be frozen.  The Dutch
government has also proposed the inclusion of the CPP, NPA and Professor
Sison on the European Union list of "terrorists”.

Now Professor Sison and other Filipino progressives, including legitimate
asylum seekers and recognized political refugees, in the Netherlands have
fallen victim to draconian and repressive measures such as surveillance,
raids, control of movement and travel and harassment.

The European media has since systematically demonized Professor Sison in an
attempt to justify the discriminatory measures of the Dutch government.  His
bank account has been frozen and his rightful social benefits have been
terminated, effectively robbing him and his family of very basic necessities
such as food, shelter, and health.  They are now threatening to have
Professor Sison, who is a recognized and legitimate political refugee in the
Netherlands, unjustly extradited to the U.S.,  – a move that clearly exposes
U.S. interests behind his political persecution.  These measures unfairly
violate Professor Sison’s civil liberties and democratic and human rights.

In order to extradite Professor Sison to the U.S., the U.S. must level
criminal charges against him.  As freedom-loving people, we must be vigilant
against such an attempt, as the U.S. may prove desperate enough to trump up
criminal charges against Professor Sison or seize Sison by any other means
for its own interests.  Such shady measures would not come as a surprise
since the U.S. imperialism is bent on suppressing legitimate political
dissent under the thin veil of fighting ‘international terrorism.’

The fact is that Professor Sison has been a key part of the peace-building
efforts of the NDFP.  Since 1992, the NDFP has been engaged in peace
negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines hosted
by various European governments.  NDFP member organizations, including the
CPP and NPA, have consistently conformed to international standardss of
human rights and international law through various international instruments
such as the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its Protocols that govern
the conduct of civil war and armed conflict.  The disciplined practice of
the CPP and NPA for over the last two decades is evidence enough that they
have been unjustly branded as terrorists.  In fact, the Dutch government has
in the past helped the peace process by facilitating peace negotiations
between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.
Now, this current atmosphere of political witch hunting is undermining this
peace process.

The thinly veiled excuse of fighting “terrorism” in the aftermath of
September 11 must not be used to suppress legitimate political activities
and dissent.

We will heighten our vigilance and political and educational efforts to
expose and oppose the U.S.-led political witch hunt trying to destroy the
Filipino people’s legitimate aspirations of genuine freedom and democracy!

As overseas Filipinos in Canada and peace- and freedom-loving people, we
demand the Dutch government reconsider its unjust treatment of Professor
Sison and other Filipino progressives in the Netherlands.  We urge that the
Dutch government not follow the United States’ self-serving agenda, but
continue its history of positively supporting the building of a genuine and
just and lasting peace in the Philippines.

Respect and defend the legitimate rights of Professor Jose Maria Sison!
Stop the U.S.-led political witch hunt!
Long live the Filipino people’s struggle for national freedom, democracy and
a just and lasting peace!
Long live international solidarity!

Statement of:
B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Filipino Nurses Support
Group, Philippine Women Centre of B.C., SIKLAB (Overseas Filipino workers
organization), Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/Filipino-Canadian
Youth Alliance-Vancouver






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