We deplore the arrest of Jose Ma. Sison. The self-righteous glee of
the National Security Adviser in his TV appearance exposed the
sinister involvement of the Arroyo administration in this sordid
affair.
The use of deception, solitary confinement, and denial of medication
are standard practices in the Philippines under Marcos and Arroyo. We
are alarmed over reports that the Dutch authorities, too, applied
these methods on Sison.
It is sad if the Dutch authorities today abandon their country’s proud
tradition of providing refuge to persecuted political dissenters. They
now seem to fall into the hypocritical schemes of Arroyo and Bush in
the so-called “war on terror.” While pretending to respect human
rights, Arroyo allows extra-judicial killings and disappearances of
activists and legitimate critics. While railing against international
terrorism, Bush supports the Florida-based gangs who continue to
commit terrorist attacks against the people of Cuba.
Laban ng Masa has condemned the murders of Rolly Kintanar and Art
Tabara. We fully understand the desire of the widows of Kintanar and
Tabara to seek justice for their husbands.
We expect the Dutch authorities to respect the rights of Jose Ma.
Sison, including his personal and health needs, and hope that his
arrest and detention will not just be part of the pattern of threats
and harassment instigated by the Arroyo and Bush governments.