Statement on My Release from Detention
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
13 September 2007

Friends, Warmest greetings!

I am deeply pleased and thankful that the Rechtsbank has decided to release me from detention. You cannot imagine how happy I am. It is extremely painful and humiliating to be subjected to solitary confinement and tough interrogation under overheated lamps. The ordeal is acute because I am innocent of the false and politically-motivated charge leveled against me.
 

I have nothing to do with any murder. This is against my moral and political principles. I am a teacher by profession who loves the exchange of ideas towards common understanding and practical cooperation. I have long devoted myself to the advocacy of human rights and work for a just peace in the Philippines. I cannot go into the facts and arguments concerning my case. It is my lawyer Michiel Pestman who is competent to give you the information that you need.

Consequent to the release order of the Rechtsbank, I gain some confidence in the Dutch legal system. I have the opportunity to prove my innocence and continue to benefit from fair play. I feel somehow vindicated in choosing The Netherlands as my place of refuge from persecution in the Philippines. I also wish to thank the Dutch, Filipino and other peoples for their solidarity and support.

I will stay in the Netherlands with my wife and my two children who are already independent. I will conduct my legal defense and further clear my name. I will continue to exercise my freedom to speak and other democratic rights. I will continue to work for national freedom, human rights, social justice and an enduring, because just, peace in the Philippines.

I will continue to abide by the laws of the Dutch state and further develop solidarity with the Dutch people whose friendship and kindness I have enjoyed for more than 20 years.
Thank you.

Statement in text format

 

ADVISORY UPDATE
13 September 2007


FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS TO GREET PROFESSOR SISON
AT THE NDF INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION OFFICE IN UTRECHT

Friends and supporters of Prof. Jose Maria Sison are expected to greet him at the National Democratic Front International Information Office in Utrecht, The Netherlands at 6 pm tonight (Central European Time).

The judges of the court in The Hague have ordered the immediate release today of Professor Sison citing insufficient evidence in the case filed against him.

The Free Joma Sison Campaign Committee has hailed his release today as an initial victory in the campaign for the freedom of Professor Sison, who was arrested by the Dutch police on August 28. The Free Joma Sison Campaign Committee however called on friends and supporters worldwide "to continue our support and vigilance because the campaign to defend Professor Sison goes on."

Professor Sison is expected to give words of thanks to those who have kept vigil, launched militant protests and supported him in his ordeal.

The Free Joma Sison Campaign Committee

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADVISORY

JUDGES ORDER THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF PROF. JOMA SISON, CITED INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM

Contrary to earlier reports coming from court circles, the judges of the court in The Hague have ordered the immediate release today of Prof. Jose Maria Sison. The judges cited that there is insufficient evidence in the case filed against Prof. Sison.

Prof. Sison's lawyer,Michiel Pestman, his wife Julie de Lima Sison and members of the NDFP Negotiating Panel are now on the way to the State Penitentiary in The Hague to fetch Prof. Sison.

We will keep you posted on the developments especially on the legal case against Prof. Sison. We must continue with our support and vigilance because the campaign to defend Prof. Sison goes on.

The Free Joma Sison Campaign Committee
September 13, 2007

■   Complete text of the decision of the judges

■   Fil-Ams Welcome Release of Prof. Jose Maria Sison; "Fight is Far From Over"-- BAYAN USA

■   Canadians and overseas Filipinos celebrate Professor Sison’s release from Dutch detention, but remain vigilant against further political persecution

■   Canadian organizations celebrate release of Jose Maria Sison - Free Joma Sison Committee in Canada

■   HK DEFEND welcomes Dutch court decision to free Prof. Jose aria Sison

■   Filipino-Canadian youth welcome Jose Maria Sison's release; demand drop of charges and end to political persecution

Statement of BAYAN 

on the Release of Prof. Jose Ma. Sison
Reference: Renato M. Reyes, Jr.
Secretary General

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan is happy with the release of Prof. Sison from his more than two weeks of detention by the Dutch authorities. This is a victory in his continuing fight against political persecution by the Dutch, Philippine and United States governments. The three governments have conspired to have Sison listed as a terrorist and then later have him detained on trumped up charges of incitement to murder. This is a major setback in their dastardly plans to criminalize Sison and the cause he has fought for.

The Dutch court decision found that there was no strong evidence linking Prof. Sison to the deaths of Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara.

Bayan will continue its scheduled mass action tomorrow from the University of Sto. Tomas going to Liwasang Bonifacio at 1:00 pm. As part of the celebratory mood of the action, we will be reading poems and singing songs Sison composed. We shall march with the call, “Tuloy ang Laban! Justice for Joma!”

The fight of Prof. Sison is by no means over. The Dutch prosecution will appeal the decision of the court. For all we know, this may not be the last fabricated charge against Sison that the Manila government will concoct.

We call for the immediate stop to the political persecution of Prof. Sison and the other progressives in Europe. In the same vein, we call for a stop to the political persecution of activist here in the Philippines. We call for a stop to the never-ending filing of trumped up charges to harass and detain activists. ►
 

The announcement of the Arroyo government that it is offering the CPP-NPA-NDF amnesty or face all-out war is contrary to the spirit of the peace process. We are very sure that the Arroyo government is using the amnesty proclamation to lay the basis for escalated war. This counter-insurgency tact has also resulted in the extra-judicial killings of activists over the span of six years.

■   Dutch court's decision validates as political harassment murder case vs Sison– GABRIELA

■   “Malacanang suffered another black eye with Joma’s release!”-KMP

■   Bayan calls on Philippine, Dutch and US governments to stop persecuting Prof. Sison

■   CPP applauds release of Jose Maria Sison

■   Cordillera Human Rights Alliance: Statement on the release of Professor Jose Maria Sison

■   Congratulations, Prof. Sison
By Tonyo(Tonyo)
Reports reaching Manila moments ago say that Dutch authorities have started the process to release Jose Maria Sison from detention after a court supposedly found "lack of evidence" to pin him down over his alleged role in murders of ...
tonyo - http://tonyo.blogspot.com/

■   Post-mortem on Jose Maria Sison's arrest, detention and release
By Tonyo(Tonyo)
As I write this, scores of supporters of Jose Maria Sison are assembling in Manila for a "victory march and rally" to celebrate the leftist leader's release from prison after Dutch judges found the evidence him "insufficient" to cause ...
tonyo - http://tonyo.blogspot.com/

■   TV7-Sept14 video of release of Prof. Sison

■   TV-7-Sept13 news broadcast on Sison's release

■   Q11-TV-Sept13 news broadcast on Sison's release

Sison on jail: I felt like living in a toilet

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Sison vows to continue fight for freedom, peace

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Sen Madrigal urges Sison to file case vs Arroyo, Gonzales

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Sison vows to continue fight for freedom, peace - Inquirer.net

Sison on jail: I felt like living in a toilet

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