Labels, Laws and Liberation

The case of Professor Jose Maria Sison

A critical look at the impact of anti-terrorism laws on the right to national liberation and the future of human rights
May 28 to 30, 2004
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

National Organizing Committee:

B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP)
Manitoba Centre for Philippine Concerns (MCPC)
Philippine Network for Justice and Peace - Toronto (PNJP)
Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (OCHRP)
Centre for Philippine Concerns - Montreal (CPC)

Under the auspices of:
The International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS)

Background:

Since the events of September 11, the US has pressured other countries around the world to internationalize anti-terrorism legislation as a key mechanism in the so-called "war on terrorism." Various countries are creating laws modelled after the repressive and discriminatory US Patriot Act. In Canada, Bill C-36 quickly became law in October 2001, at the height of the anti-terrorism hysteria.

But what is the impact of these new laws on human rights and civil liberties? What is the impact upon international humanitarian law that upholds the right of peoples to struggle for national liberation?

Legal and human rights activists must now confront the escalating tension between international human rights standards and international humanitarian law on the one hand; and these pieces of anti-terrorism legislation passed in the name of national security on the other. Have anti-terrorism laws merely become a way to suppress dissent? Have they become a means to attack legitimate national liberation movements, their leaders and other legitimate political refugees?

A respected intellectual, poet and patriot from the Philippines, Professor Sison is currently challenging this unjust "terrorist" label before the European Court of Justice and the Dutch government. His court cases raise precedent-setting arguments that seek to uphold his human rights under European and international human rights instruments. The declaration of Professor Jose Maria Sison as a "terrorist" in 2002 by the U.S., Dutch and European governments violates his human rights as a political refugee under international laws.

This international human rights conference will examine the situation of Professor Sison's international campaign for justice as a case study. Through analysis and discussion of his situation, his legal defence cases and the international campaign taken up on his behalf, the larger global and political forces that shape his situation and that deeply affect the future development and protection of international human rights standards will be uncovered.

Participants at this international conference will also discuss and analyse the concrete impact of these trends and plan actions to sustain campaigns for justice for those, such as Professor Sison, who are being attacked under this legislation.

The member organizations of the National Organizing Committee are proud to host this international conference, under the auspices of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS). Human rights activists, organizers, lawyers and others working with refugees, migrants, and immigrants and for social justice and in solidarity with oppressed peoples are invited to attend!

Conference objectives:

1. Examine the situation of Professor Jose Maria Sison as a case study of how the human rights of refugees and the right of oppressed peoples to struggle for national and social liberation are being attacked in the context of the internationalization of so-called anti-terrorism legislation.
2. Discuss and analyse the impact of anti-terrorism legislation in Canada and in other countries upon human rights and civil liberties, particularly of refugees, migrants, immigrants and others struggling for social justice and in solidarity with oppressed peoples.
3. Plan actions, campaigns and other methods of exposing and opposing these attacks, including continued support for the international Defend Sison campaign and the precedent-setting legal cases being taken on behalf of Professor Sison.

About ILPS:

The International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation founded in May 2001 composed of over 200 mass organizations from 40 countries. The ILPS promotes, supports and develops the anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the people of the world against the ideological, political, military, economic, social and cultural domination and attacks of imperialism and reaction.

For more information on the conference:

National Conference Secretariat
c/o B.C. Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP)
211 - 5450 Empire Drive
Burnaby, British Columbia
CANADA
V5B 1N4
Telephone / Fax (604) 215-1905
E-mail at bcchrp@telus.net

For more information on the international campaign to defend Professor Sison:
http://www.defendsison.be/ (Website of the Committee DEFEND)
http://inps-sison.freewebspace.com/ (Website of the International Network for Philippine Studies)