Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 4, 2007
Dear Kababayan and Friends:
With the unjust arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, we urge you to form Free Jose Maria Sison Committees in your areas. Such a committee will be in charge of campaigning through various forms of actions for the immediate release from prison of Professor Sison.
There is absolutely no basis for the charge that he ordered the killing of Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara. The Supreme Court decision of July 2, 2007 clearing Prof. Sison of the charge of rebellion includes the cases pertaining to Kintanar and Tabara. It is clear that this action by the Dutch authorities has nothing to do with a simple criminal proceeding but is highly tainted with political motives.
There are three main actors with their own self-serving political agendas behind this latest attack on Professor Sison: the US, Dutch and Philippine governments.
The Bush government wants to put it within the framework of its so-called “war on terror”. This “war on terror” is really war on anybody that is opposed to its world domination. The Dutch government under prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende wants to protect its growing economic interests in the Philippines by making a deal with the illegitimate, corrupt, murderous and brutal Arroyo regime. The Dutch now ranks third in foreign investments in the country. The fake president Arroyo wants to save her skin by riding on the “war on terror” bandwagon of the US and by making a deal with the Dutch government. She calculates that with the arrest of Professor Sison, she would be able to divert attention from her illegitimate rule, corruption and masterminding the extrajudicial killings of more than 1,000 and enforced disappearances of more than 250 political opponents.
The Free Jose Maria Sison Committee can organize protest actions and raise funds for the court battle in the Netherlands. Such actions can be pickets in front of the Philippine and Dutch missions in your area, forums, petition signing, bombarding the Dutch government of Jan Peter Balkenende with protest letters or emails, getting the support of prominent people from parliament, academe, churches, etc.
We enclose below a sample letter that maybe used by those who wish to send a letter to the Dutch government.
Mabuhay tayong lahat!
MIGRANTE Europe
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sample Letter
Dear Sir:
I view with great concern and alarm the arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, a highly respected intellectual, writer, poet, political thinker and fighter for progressive causes.
The charges being brought against him are evidently fabricated and politically motivated. The Philippine Supreme Court in a final judgment on July 2, 2007 has already thrown out these charges as without value. The Philippine Supreme Court even castigated the Philippine Secretary of Justice and public prosecutors for prostituting the Philippine justice system by allowing their offices to be used for political objectives.
I note the unusual interest being shown by the US as exemplified in the statements of the US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kinney applauding the arrest of Professor Sison and offering to help the Dutch government in pursuing the case. Philippine government officials like National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales and Philippine National Police Deputy Director Avelino Razon, Jr. have publicly declared that they have been collaborating with the Dutch police in building the case against Professor Sison from January to July of this year. These show that this is no simple criminal proceeding.
I urge you to stop this grave injustice and do the right thing by immediately releasing Professor Sison from cruel detention and withdrawing the obviously false charges against him.
Sincerely Yours,