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Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights
Press Release
Filipinos and Canadians call for immediate release
of Sison in nationwide actions
For immediate release: September 1, 2007
Progressive Filipinos and Canadians across Canada demanded the immediate
release of exiled revolutionary leader Professor Jose Maria Sison at
indignation rallies and other actions yesterday in front of the Dutch
consular offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Sison was arrested on
August 28, 2007 by the Dutch police in the Netherlands.
The rallyists in Toronto condemned the Dutch police and the Dutch
government for the arrests and harassment.. “The sudden arrest of Prof.
Sison and the raids of the National Democratic Front (NDF) office and some
homes of progressive Filipinos in the Netherlands are meant to intimidate,
harass and quell the growing people’s movement in the Philippines and its
growing international support and solidarity,” stated Joy C. Sioson, Chair
of the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario - a member of the
Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR). “The continuing
persecution of Prof. Sison is a testament to the desperation of the
US-backed Arroyo regime to maintain and uphold the interests of US
imperialism and its allies in the Philippines,” she said.
Camille Cendana of Ugnayan Ontario stated: “Prof. Sison is an inspiration
to young people. As progressive Filipino-Canadian youth, we view his
history of work in the youth and students movement in the Philippines in
the 1960s and his continuing work in the anti-imperialist movement as part
of what gives us the strength and determination to go back to our roots
and carry forward the people’s struggle.”
Philip Fernandez of the Communist Party of Canada – Marxist-Leninist and
other allies gave solidarity messages, denouncing Prof. Sison’s arrest and
state-sponsored terrorism. Over 200 copies of the PCTFHR national
statement were handed out by members of SIKLAB Ontario, Ugnayan Ontario
and the Philippine Women Centre of Ontario and their supporters. A copy of
the statement was also given to the Vice-Consul of the Netherlands in
Toronto.
In Montreal, despite intimidation, harassment and threats that the RCMP
would be called by security personnel of the Dutch consulate, peace-loving
Filipinos and Canadians stood firm in their resolve to condemn the Dutch
government in the arrest of Prof. Sison. Calling to “Junk the trumped-up
charges against Sison,” the rallyists called for his immediate release and
exposed the falseness of the murder charges against him as a tactic of the
Dutch government to politically harass and intimidate other progressive
Filipinos in the Netherlands. Joanne Vasquez, Chair of the Philippine
Women Centre of Quebec, asserted that, “Progressive Filipino-Canadians and
their Canadian supporters will continue to expose and oppose the draconian
efforts of the US, Dutch and Philippine governments to malign Prof. Sison
as a terrorist and criminal.” She further stated, “The longer Prof. Sison
is detained, the stronger our movement for his freedom will be and the
stronger the Filipino people’s movement will be in its anti-imperialist
struggle.”
After the program, a delegation from the rally presented a condemnation
letter to the Consul General of the Netherlands in Montreal where they
were able to have a brief dialogue expressing their concern about the
violation of Prof. Sison’s human rights and civil liberties.
In Vancouver, a delegation of representatives of the PCTFHR delivered 50
signed petition letters to the offices of the Consulate General of the
Netherlands. (See attached photo.) Despite holding a rally in front of the
offices a few days before (in which no representative of the Consulate
spoke to the rallyists) and despite being assured by the Vice Consul
Vencent Vemeer by phone that their petition letters would be welcomed, the
delegation was told by Consular staff that neither the Consul General nor
any representative was available to speak with them about their concerns.
The delegation, however, was able to gain the support of other people in
the office lobby. After hearing members of the delegation explain their
objectives, one woman, a Dutch citizen living in Canada, expressed
outraged at the news of Sison’s arrest and the harassment of other
Filipinos in the Netherlands.
As part of the internationally coordinated action across Canada and other
parts of the world, PCTFHR member organizations across Canada will
continue to unite in advancing its militant fight against imperialism and
its attacks on the Filipino people. “While the attack on Prof. Sison is an
attack on the anti-imperialist movement, the growing support and
solidarity movement for the Philippines and other oppressed nations’
struggle for national freedom and democracy is a testament that the
anti-imperialist movement is intensifying worldwide,” said Vasquez.
Actions across Canada are planned for next week as Prof. Sison is due to
appear in a Dutch court on September 7.
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British Columbia Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP)
"Celebrating 25 years of solidarity with the Filipino people for genuine
peace, democracy and freedom!"
Member of the Philippines-Canada Task Force for Human Rights (PCTFHR)
c/o Kalayaan Centre, 451 Powell Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6A 1G7
Phone/Fax: 604.215.1905 | http://www.kalayaancentre.net
To sign onto on-line URGENT ACTIONS please visit:
http://www.psacbc.com/philippines/
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