Second Congress Documents

ON THE CONTINUED TERROR LISTING and PERSECUTION of PROF. JOSE MARIA SISON

 

 

Whereas, on 9 August 2002, the US State Department designated the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) as “foreign terrorist organizations”.  On 12 August 2002, the US Treasury Department listed the CPP/NPA and Prof. Jose Maria Sison as “terrorists” whose assets must be frozen.

 

Whereas, following the lead of the US, the Dutch government and the European Union (EU) likewise placed the NPA and Professor Sison in their own respective terror lists under Sanction Regulation on Terrorism 2002 III on 13 August 2002 and Common Council Position 2002/847/CFSP and Council Decision 2002/848/EC on 28 October 2002. 

 

Whereas, Professor Sison has been a leading figure in the struggle of the Filipino people against imperialism, foreign intervention, economic globalization, and for social justice. As such, he was imprisoned during the Marcos martial rule and continued to be persecuted after Marcos’ downfall.  He was forced to go into exile and seek asylum in the Netherlands.  

 

Whereas, Prof. Sison has been living in the Netherlands as a political refugee under the protection of the Refugee Convention and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.  He is the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in the peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. 

 

Whereas, the US, Dutch and EU terror lists do not provide any factual, legal and moral  basis for his inclusion in therein, neither was he allowed any means of ascertaining any such bases.  Such listing has resulted to the freezing of Prof. Sison’s bank accounts, the denial of his social benefits necessary for his survival, the proscription to travel as well as the threat of eviction and extradition.  More significantly, the terror listing is tantamount to a conviction without trial and invites persecution and similar restrictive measures against Professor Sison from nations influenced by the US and EU.

 

Whereas, we reject such terror lists which crımınalıze individuals, organizations and  national liberation movements engaged in legitimate people’s struggles.

 

WHEREFORE, we people’s lawyers, law students and legal workers from the International Association of Peoples’s Lawyers (IAPL) gathered in 2^nd Congress, resolve, as it is hereby resolved, to call and enjoin on the US and Dutch Governments and the European Union, to:

 

Effect the immediate delisting of Prof. Jose Maria Sison and other progressive ındıvıduals and organızatıons from the terrorist lists;

 

Effect the total and unconditional lifting of sanctions that have been imposed; and

 

Effect the full respect for the most basic rights of Prof. Sison as a human being and his rights as a recognized political refugee protected by international conventions.

 

Adopted this 9^th day of November 2003, Istanbul, Turkey.