[APWSLMembers 602] Militants protest at Dutch Embassy: Arrest of Prof. Joma Sison, handiwork of U.S. and Arroyo gov'ts -- KMU

[kmu id]

KILUSANG MAYO UNO
(May First Labor Center)
TAGAPAMANDILA NG TUNAY NA UNYONISMO
No. 63 Narra St. Bgy. Claro, Proj. 3 Quezon City
Telefax 421-0768, 421-0986
Email: kilusangmayouno at gmail.com, Website:www.kilusangmayouno.org

NEWS RELEASE
Agosto 29, 2007

Militants protest at Dutch Embassy
Arrest of Prof. Joma Sison, handiwork of U.S. and Arroyo gov'ts -- KMU

The militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemned the
arbitrary arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Consultant of the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines in Utrecht, The Netherlands
yesterday. The operation leading to the arrest of Sison was led by the
Dutch National Criminal Investigation Department. Aside from Sison's
arrest, the Dutch police also raided the office of NDFP and residences
of several of its staff including NDFP Chief Negotiator Luis
Jalandoni.

"This incident is a big blow to the ongoing peace negotiations between
the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and NDFP.
Prof. Sison's arrest is a repeat of what the Arroyo government did to
Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran in February 2006 when he was arrested
based on trump up charges of inciting to rebellion. It's a clear case
of political harassment and violation of Sison's rights," said KMU
Chairperson Elmer Labog.

Progressive groups lead by BAYAN, KMU, and International League of
People's Struggles trooped to the Dutch Embassy in Makati this morning
to assail the arrest. KMU said it is possible that Sison's arrest was
ordered by the Bush and Arroyo government's following the tagging of
Sison and the CPP-NPA as terrorists.

According to KMU, Sison's arrest is unjust because last July 11, the
European Court of First Instance (ECFI) issued a judgment annulling
the decision of the European Union Council ordering the blacklisting
and terror listing of Prof. Sison. "The ECFI ruled that the Council of
the EU violated the rights of Prof. Sison to defense, the obligation
to state reasons and the right to effective judicial protection. There
had never been any competent judicial authority calling him to a
criminal investigation or any court hearing regarding any terrorist
act. Aside from this, the Supreme Court already junked the charges
filed against Sison and fifty other individuals accused by the Arroyo
government of involvement in various crimes."

"Prof. Sison is a legitimate and recognized political refugee as
stated in Article 1 A of the International Refugee Convention. He was
forced to seek asylum in The Netherlands in 1987 after the Philippine
government confiscated his passport following series of harassment
against Sison because of his political activities," he said.

"There are no evidences linking Sison to the killings of Arturo Tabara
and Romulo Kintanar. The New People's Army already claimed
responsibility for the executions. These cases were just conveniently
used by the U.S. and Arroyo governments to further suppress Sison and
other Filipino patriots in Europe. We are positive that Sison's arrest
is the handiwork of Bush and Arroyo governments. Sison is a known critic
of U.S. and Philippine policies detrimental to the people. Sison and
the CPP-NPA were included in the European Union, U.S. and Philippine
government's terrorist listing. "Arroyo is intensifying her war
against the people."

"Prof. Sison's arrest will push international condemnation protests in
the Philippines and other countries led by advocates of civil
liberties and peace process," the labor leader concluded. ###