Statement of the NDFP Executive Committee, September 21, 2002
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines vehemently condemns the United States for its designation of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People`s Army as “foreign terrorist organizations” and of Comrade Jose Maria Sison as “terrorist.” This move is part and parcel of the US plan to deepen its military intervention in the country as the armed revolutionary movement for genuine national freedom and democracy resurges.
After using the Abu Sayyaf as pretext to directly engage in combat operations, the US now has trained its guns on the revolutionary forces such as the CPP and NPA as well as patriots like Comrade Sison because of their firm opposition to long standing US domination in the country.
The US has singled out Comrade Sison. It demanded that the Dutch government to freeze his assets – to which the Dutch government readily acquiesced. It now threatens him with extradition and inhumane treatment accorded to suspected “terrorists” now incarcerated in the US.
Equally condemnable is the puppet president Macapagal-Arroyo. Since her US visit in November last year, Macapagal-Arroyo has eagerly danced to the tune of Bush`s “war on terrorism.” Her declaration of “all-out war” against the NPA in August was part of the script prepared by US secretary of state Gen Powell who, few days later, declared the designation of the CPP and NPA as “foreign terrorist organizations.” She and her pro-US military generals gleefully clapped their hands when the Dutch government followed the US lead in treating Sison as “terrorist”.
The NDF is gravely concerned with the Dutch government`s cooperation with the US to persecute Comrade Sison. It has frozen his personal bank account which contains nothing but social welfare aid, depriving him of the means to have even basic necessities. It has reportedly downgraded his status from that of a political refugee, a step towards regarding him as a criminal.
Comrade Sison`s appeal on the European Court of Human Rights to reverse the Dutch government`s refusal to grant him residence permit is now threatened by the European Union`s adoption of its own “anti-terrorist” measure. On July 15, 2002, the deputies of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs adopted a set of guidelines on human rights and the fight against terrorism which severely curtailed civil liberties, much like the US Patriot Act.
Comrade Sison is not a “terrorist.” His life as a political activist since his student days is a matter of public knowledge. He figured prominently in the widespread protests against US war of agression in Vietnam. He has been a sharp critic of imperialist globalization and US “war on terrorism”. He has acknowledged being the founder of the CPP. A political prisoner during the US-backed Marcos fascist regime, he has been in The Netherlands since 1987 and is considered by the Dutch highest administrative court, the Raad van State, a political refugee since 1992.
In 1991, he began to serve as senior political consultant of the NDFP panel in the peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines which were held mostly in The Netherlands, Belgium and recently in Norway. He was of great help in the peace negotiations which came up with ten agreements, the most significant of which were the Hague Joint Declaration and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. He also lent an able hand in the resumption of the peace talks between the Macapagal-Arroyo government and the NDFP early last year.
Comrade Sison was one of the early critics of the corrupt and incompetent Estrada regime and an acknowleged voice in the broad mass movement that eventually ousted Estrada. A Johnny come lately in that movement, Macapagal-Arroyo was simply lucky to have been the constitutional successor to the ousted president.
Joema, as he is fondly called, is truly a patriot. He deserves the support of the Filipino people and other people the world over who truly cherish national freedom and democracy and are able to see through the lies and deceit of the US “war against terrorism” as it further expands its world domination.
