COMMITTEE DEFEND DECRIES AND CONDEMNS CRUELTY OF DUTCH GOVERNMENT TO PROF. SISON
PRESS STATEMENT 16 May 2003
The European Court of First Instance handed down in Luxembourg on 15 May 2003 its decision on the application by Prof. Jose Maria Sison against the European Council and Commission for interim relief from the freezing of his social benefits.
The Court dismissed the application but made a positive declaration that Prof. Sison should seek interim relief from the Dutch national authorities. It declared that it is within the jurisdiction and competence of the Dutch national authorities to restore the basic necessities of Prof. Sison.
The Court pointed out that the European Council Regulation of 2001 allows competent authorities in each member state (in this case the Dutch government) to grant specific authorizations to use the frozen funds for essential human needs of the person, included in the list and their family, such as for foodstuffs, medicines, rent, mortgage payments, and also to pay taxes, compulsory insurance premiums and utility bills.
As a member state of the United Nations, the Netherlands is required by the UN Security Council Resolution 1452 of 20 December 2002 not to deprive anyone in the so-called terrorist list of the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, medicines and medical care, health insurance and professional fees.
As a member state of the European Community, the Netherlands is also required by European Council Regulation (EC) No. 561/2003 of 27 March 2003 not to deprive Prof. Sison of basic necessities. This EC Regulation explicitly stipulates that it is directly applicable to the member states.
Since November 2002, the Municipality of Utrecht has discontinued the social benefits due to Prof. Sison as a recognized political refugee, thereby violating his basic human rights guaranteed by the European Conventions (EVRM), and UN Council Resolution 1452. Since then, he has made objections through written appeals and administrative hearings conducted by the COA (Center for Reception of Asylum Seekers) and the Finance Ministry.
The Committee DEFEND decries and condemns the cruelty of the Dutch government in depriving Prof. Sison of basic necessities. By preventing him from working and by terminating the social benefits due to him as a recognized political refugee, the Dutch government is violating his basic human right to life and practically wants him to starve to death.
The Dutch Minister of Finance, Hoogervorst, practically wants Sison to starve to death.
His Dutch lawyers, Hans Langenberg and Dundar Gurses have filed a case for provisional measures before the District Court of Utrecht to challenge the decision to deprive him of his social benefits and demand their immediate restoration. The case will proceed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in case Prof. Sison cannot get justice within the Netherlands.
The decision of the European Court of First Instance to dismiss the application of Prof. Sison for interim relief leaves intact the main issue concerning the legality of the inclusion of Prof. Sison in the European Council’s list of suspected terrorists.
The main issue is raised in his application to the European Court of Justice filed on 6 February 2003. The date for handing down the decision has not yet been announced by the Court.
###
For more information please contact:
Ruth de Leon Committee DEFEND
Email: defenddemrights@yahoo.com
Website: www.defendsison.be
Telephone: +31-(0)30-2368722
Fax: +31-(0)30-2322989
Postal Address: 15687, 1001 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Telephone: 00-31-30-2368722
Fax: 00-31-30-2322989
Email: defenddemrights@yahoo.com
Website: www.defendsison.be