Communist Party of India (Marxist - Leninist) New Democracy - Delhi: Protest Against Arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison

Written by cpimlnd

Friday, 07 September 2007

Activists of CPI(ML)-New Democracy and other organizations held a demonstration in Delhi on September 4, 2007 (Tuesday) against the arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Senior Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of Philippines and founding Chairman of the Communist Party of Philippines, by the authorities of the Netherlands. The Demonstration was held against the action of the Netherlands’ Govt. and demanded immediate release and respect for the rights of Prof. Sison and NDFP leaders and activists. Over one hundred activists including democratic intellectuals participated in the demonstration. The demonstrators carried banners and placards decrying Prof. Sison’s arrest and demanding his release.
The Demonstrators assembled at Teen Murti and marched in a procession towards the Embassy of the Netherlands. The demonstrators were stopped by the police before they had reached the Embassy. A memorandum signed by the representatives of the participating organizations i.e. CPI(ML)-New Democracy, RDF, CPI(ML)-New Proletarian was handed over to the Embassy of the Netherlands. Representatives of the participating organizations and prominent intellectuals addressed the demonstrators, condemned the arrest of Prof. Sison and raiding of the office of NDFP in Utrecht, the Netherlands calling it at the behest of US Admn. and Arroyo Govt. of Philippines.
With this demonstration, the revolutionary forces have registered their strong condemnation of the action of the Dutch authorities and expressed their solidarity with the struggle of the people of Philippines against the anti-people Arroyo Govt. and its patrons, the US imperialists.
The participants in the demonstration called for protest programmes against the arrest of Prof. Sison.

The memorandum submitted to the Ambassador states:
“Through your Embassy we, the representatives of different organizations who have signed this communication, wish to lodge our protest with the Govt. of The Netherlands at the arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Senior Political Consultant of the National Democratic Front of Philippines (NDFP) in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The state authorities of your country also raided office of NDFP and office of Chief negotiator on behalf of NDFP Luis Jalandoni. The unwarranted, unprovoked, unjustified and illegal arrest of Prof. Sison proves that your Govt. has chosen to act on the wishes of US Admn. and Arroyo regime of Philippines.

Prof. Sison is a widely respected figure in Philippines for his consistent opposition to the anti-people policies of the successive Govts. in Philippines and for his championing the cause of struggle against US domination of Philippines. Besides, Prof. Sison is well known for his support to just struggles of the people in different countries and cause of peace and liberty the world over. His arrest at a time when peace negotiations between the Govt. of Philippines and NDFP are still on shows utter lack of sincerity by the Philippines Govt. towards peace negotiations.

The action of the Philippines Govt. is against the growing people’s movement against highly unpopular and anti-people Arroyo Govt. It is worth mentioning that the Govt. of Philippines had brought charges of rebellion against Prof. Sison and fifty other individuals. These charges have been dismissed by the Supreme Court of Philippines on July 2 this year. Yet the Govt. of Philippines is pressing for the action against Prof. Sison
US Admn. has been listing Communist Party of Philippines (CPP) and NPA as terrorist organizations and has brought Prof. Sison under this tag. The European Council too has followed suit. However, on July 11, 2007 European Court of First Instance annulled the decision of the European Union Council ordering terror listing of Prof Sison. This action of your Govt. despite judgement of ECFI shows the scant regard that your Govt. has for the judicial pronouncements.
Prof. Sison is a legitimate and recognized political refugee as stated in Article 1 A of the International Refugee Convention. This act of your Govt. is against the provisions of that Convention and the cause of democratic rights in your country. State authorities accuse Prof. Sison of certain acts without any evidence and without adhering to principles of natural justice, only at the instance of Arroyo regime.
We call on your Govt. to immediately release Prof. Jose Maria Sison and restore to him all rights of a legitimate political refugee which he is entitled to enjoy.”