Press Release
Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR)

Filipinos and Canadians call for immediate release of Sison in nationwide actions

1 September 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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For photos of the rally in Toronto, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/pwcontario/sets/72157601792949007/

For photos of the rally in Vancouver, visit http://kalayaancentre.net/assets/images/photos/2007/rallyjms_29aug.htm

For photos of the rally in Montreal, please see attached. Photo from Vancouver delegation to the Dutch consulate also attached.

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