DEFEND Jose Maria Sison

DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF PROGRESSIVE FILIPINOS IN THE NETHERLANDS WHO ARE UNDER ATTACK

Condemn the US sponsored repressive measures imposed by the Dutch government against the progressive Filipinos in the Netherlands!

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The International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) condemns in the strongest terms the action of the ultra-right Bush government in putting the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army on its so-called list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and the repressive measures it plans to undertake in accordance with this declaration.

Not content with its own unilateral action, it has asked other governments to follow its lead in attacking a progressive social movement fighting for genuine national independence from imperialist domination and social liberation from an oppressive domestic ruling system.

By this latest action, the US shows its overweening arrogance. It places the tag of "terrorist" on anyone it wishes to set up for attack. It acts as prosecutor, judge, jury and executor against anyone who dares oppose its imperialist system of plunder, wars and state terror.

Filipino progressive organizations and individuals especially Prof. Jose Maria Sison and NDFP personnel based in the Netherlands are now the target of attack and persecution. The newly-installed government in the Netherlands is reported to be poised on imposing repressive measures such as freezing the bank accounts of targeted organizations and individuals. Progressive Filipinos in the Netherlands face the threats of surveillance and harassment, police raids on homes and offices, freezing of personal and collective bank accounts, control of movement, extradition and other such attacks.

Prof. Jose Maria Sison is the General Consultant of the ILPS and a militant anti-imperialist and democrat. This is the reason why the imperialists and reactionaries of all stripes have repeatedly singled him out for vilification and attack.

We call on the Dutch people, the people of Europe and the rest of the world to oppose this latest action of the US and the apparent collusion of the newly-installed Dutch government to curtail the democratic rights of progressive Filipinos in the Netherlands who are working for a perfectly legitimate cause in their country. If we do not raise our voice and oppose this blatant attack on the rights of people to fight for their own political beliefs anyone can become the next victim.

ILPS General Secretariat
August 2002