Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada / Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance-National
Press Statement

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

14 September 2007

Reference: Carlo Sayo, National Chairperson, 604-215-1103, ukpc_fcya@kalayaancentre.net

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

After international pressure including protest rallies, petitions, and actions, Filipino-Canadian youth welcome the release of political prisoner Professor Jose Maria Sison from the Dutch detention centre after the September 13 order of the District Court in the Hague, Netherlands.

The court maintained that there was insufficient evidence against Professor Sison to hold him, however it cannot be ignored that his release is due to the overwhelming international actions, including those across Canada demanding his immediate release after his unjust arrest and detention based on trumped-up murder charges last August 28, 2007.

Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada/ The Filipino-Canadian Youth Alliance, a national alliance of Filipino youth organizations across Canada, is pleased to hear the announcement. We see his unjust arrest and persecution as politically-motivated. Professor Sison has always maintained his innocence in the case and we see his arrest and detention as a blatant expression of the Dutch government's bowing down to the dictates of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and US President George Bush.

Professor Sison's release is a small victory not only for Professor Sison, but for all Filipinos at home and abroad who continue to struggle to put an end to all forms of exploitation and oppression. As Filipino youth abroad, it is important to recognize Professor Sison's contributions not only to the national democratic movement in the Philippines, but to the anti-imperialist movement globally.

Professor Sison though his writings, poetry, speeches and tireless and courageous efforts to withstand difficulty and hardship continues to serve as a shining source of inspiration to young people around the world hoping and working for genuine change and a just and lasting peace. He is and will always be a hero of the people!

Since 2002, UKPC-FCYA has been campaigning for justice for Professor Sison after he was unjustly labeled as a "terrorist" by the European Union and Canada after the US at the request of the Philippine government without due explanation. Calls from this campaign included the removal of Professor Sison from the terrorist listing and for the granting of political asylum to him and his family in the Netherlands -- the country where he has been living in exile for 20 years.

An initiative from the campaign lead members and allies of UKPC-FCYA from across Canada to fly to the Netherlands in June of 2003 and interview Professor Sison about the unjust labeling of political activists and about the Filipino people's movement for social and national liberation. Members produced a video and reported the findings of their trip in forums across Canada.

Mermbers of UKPC-FCYA also helped organize the historic conference "Laws, Labels and Liberation:  The Case of Professor Jose Maria Sison" held in Montreal, Quebec in May 2004. The conference examined the unjust labeling of Professor Sison, noted Filipino patriot, leader and poet, by the US, Dutch, EU and Canadian governments.

From personally meeting and knowing Professor Sison, and knowing that he is held in such high regard by the masses of Filipino people, it is clear that Sison is not the "terrorist" or criminal that the Dutch and other authorities would like to portray him as. Professor Sison is a man who truly lives by his political principles and believes in the Filipino people's struggle for self-determination, genuine democracy and social and national liberation.

While Sison has been released, the trumped-up charges of murder still remain. In the context of a heightened state of political-social and economic crisis in the Philippines, it is important to persevere against rising political persecution and repression. As Filipinos in Canada, UKPC-FCYA has the responsibility to keep up the campaign calling for "Justice for Joma!" and continue to hold and support initiatives until the charges against Sison are unconditionally dropped and he is removed from the 'foreign terrorist list.'

Justice for Joma!
Grant political asylum to the Sison family!
Stop the political persecution of progressive Filipinos!
Long live international solidarity!

September 14, 2007

Statement issued by:

Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada – BC
Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada – Ontario
Kabataang Montreal – Montral, Quebec

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