International appeal by Committee DEFEND
On 28 October 2002, the Council of the European Union added Jose Maria Sison and the New People´s Army (NPA) of the Philippines to its list of …‘terrorist´ persons, groups and entities. This decision was taken by written procedure, without discussion or due process, without motivation whatsoever. Measures to be taken against the organizations and individuals on the list include “the freezing of funds and other financial assets or economic resources, as well as police and judicial cooperation”.
With this decision, the European Union toes the line of the United States. On 9 August 2002, the US State Department listed the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People´s Army as …‘foreign terrorist organizations´, asking other governments to do the same. On 12 August 2002, the US Treasury Department listed Jose Maria Sison as a …‘terrorist´ whose assets must be frozen.
Whenever the criminalization and the repression of national liberation movements and other revolutionary organizations and individuals are concerned, the European Union applies exactly the same unjust and undemocratic standards and methods as the United States. Does the EU uncritically follow US President Bush in his `global war on terror`? Does the EU believe that states, regimes, movements and individuals that reject and resist the new colonialism of corporate control and military might are `rogue states` and `terrorists`?
The US is targetting Prof. Jose Maria Sison because he has been a leading figure of the Philippine national democratic revolution for almost forty years. He was one of the pioneers who revived the anti-imperialist movement in the Philippines in the early 60s. He re-established the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). For nine years, he was dictator Marcos´ most prominent political prisoner.
We concur with Supreme Bishop Millamena of the Philippine Independent Church, who said in a recent Dutch television program: “Prof. Sison is not a terrorist. All he does is to fight with the poor for a life in dignity. That is a legitimate struggle.”1 Philippine Vice President Guingona added to this by declaring that “one needs to make a distinction between a rebel who is fighting because of hunger and perceived injustice, and a terrorist who seeks to sow terror and hatred”.2
Today, Prof. Jose Maria Sison is living in the Netherlands as a political refugee under the protection of the Refugee Convention and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. He is the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP, the revolutionary alliance to which the CPP and the NPA belong) in the peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. These negotiations have been facilitated by the Norwegian, Dutch and Belgian governments, and the European Parliament has endorsed them through several resolutions.
The CPP, the NPA and the NDFP have been leading an exemplary people´s struggle for national liberation and democracy, against foreign domination, exploitation and oppression. We reject the notion that the struggle for national liberation, including armed struggle, is equated to terrorism. We are concerned that legitimate political organizations and individuals, including legitimate asylum seekers and recognized political refugees, may become the target of unjustified repressive measures in the guise of fighting terrorism.
The blacklisting of Prof. Sison and various revolutionary movements by the European Union does not bode well for democracy in Europe. Groups and individuals who express and concretize their solidarity with them may be the next victims. The democratic rights of freedom of __expression and of association are at stake. The human value of solidarity is under threat.
We demand from the European Union and its member states:
…· the removal of Prof. Jose Maria Sison and the New People´s Army from the list of the Council Common Position 2002/847/CFSP and Council Decision 2002/848/EC;
…· the full respect for the protection of Jose Maria Sison as a refugee under the relevant international conventions;
…· encouragement to the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations in accordance with The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 as the framework agreement and respect for the 1997 and 1999 resolutions of the European Parliament supporting the aforesaid peace negotiations;
…· the refusal of any possible demand for his extradition.
We demand from the European Union and its member states to refrain from any legislation or action that may hinder the legitimate political activities of organizations and individuals.
We support the procedure to be introduced by Prof. Sison, with the help of an international team of human rights lawyers, before the Court of the European Community in Luxemburg, against his inclusion in the EU´s list of …‘terrorists´.
We vow to extend Prof. Sison financial support for his basic necessities and for his legal defense, even if this runs counter to the decision of the Council of the European Union. To us, the values of justice and solidarity are more important.
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The International League of Peoples` Struggle (ILPS) and Committee To Defend Progressive Filipinos Abroad (Committee-DEFEND) have sent you information about the inclusion of ILPS General Consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison to the European Council`s so-called terrorist list. This act of the European Council, on orders of United States, is a gross violation of the democratic and human rights of Prof. Sison.
On 5 February 2003, Prof. Sison will file a case against his inclusion on the “terrorist listing” before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. On the same day, a press conference, picket and presentation of signatures will be held at the European Parliament to show support for Prof. Sison and the filing of the case.
In this regard, we would like to request you to please gather as many signatures as you can so we can include these in the presentation on 5 February.
You can send the signatures through any of the following:
1. scanning the signatures and sending these to the following email addresses:
a) defenddemrights@yahoo.com
b) ilp515@runbox.com
2. mailing the signatures to:
Committee DEFEND
Postbus 15687
1001 ND Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3. faxing the signatures to: 00-31-30-23222989
Thank you for your support and solidarity.
Ruth de Leon
ILPS Secretariat
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International appeal
Remove Prof. Jose Maria Sison (Philippines) from the Eu´s List of …‘Terrorists´
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Please return signed Appeal to:
Committee-DEFEND
Postbus 15687
1001 ND Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Telephone: 00-31-(0)30-2368722
Fax: 00-31-(0)30-2322989
Email: defenddemrights@yahoo.com
Website: www.defendsison.be
Please send financial support to:
ABN-AMRO 40 45 73 932
Stichting Rechtshulp OKKN
