Dutch solons raise Joma’s rights with ministers

Five members of the Dutch Senate, who belong to various major parties, raised last week questions aimed at upholding the rule of law and the rights of exiled Filipino communist leader Jose Ma. Sison.

The members of the Dutch First Chamber are Ms. M. H. A. Strik (Groen Links), Ms. M. Westerveld (Partij van de Arbeid ), H. Franken (Christen Democratisch Appel), Ms. A. C. Quik-Schuijt (Socialist Party) and J. W. M. Engels (D 66).

Addressing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice, the State Secretary of Justice and the Minister of Social Affairs and Work Opportunity, they sought clarification on the government policy toward Sison after a European court declared null the terrorist tag that was laid on him.

The lawmakers also inquired if higher appeal is being considered against this judgment and asked the position of the Dutch government is on the matter and whether it is planning to place Sison in the terror list again.

At the same time, they questioned the Dutch government’s decision not to grant Sison a residence permit.

“Is it just that the concerned cannot be expelled from The Netherlands and yet every assistance for basic needs for survival is denied him?” the lawmakers said.

Non-government organization International Defend Committee expressed hope that the questions raised by the lawmakers will encourage the Dutch government “to respect and give due course” to the Sept. 30, 2009 judgment of the European Court of First Instance in favor of Sison against the Council of the European Union (EU), for unjustly putting him on the union’s terrorist blacklist.

“We call on the Dutch government to desist from becoming a party to the filing of a frivolous appeal by the Council of the EU or be responsible for any other undertaking to prevent and delay the justice that Sison deserves. We urge the Dutch government to allow Prof. Sison to enjoy his fundamental rights and live a normal life in The Netherlands.

“We hope that the Dutch government will heed the just purpose of the questions from the broad nonpartisan array of senators, including members of parties in the ruling coalition as well as those in the opposition,” the group said,” the group said in a statement from The Netherlands.

The Dutch Senate plays a major role in scrutinizing the actions of the government as statements made by government ministers in debates carry weight in future lawsuits. The members of its Senate can also elicit undertakings from ministers about the implementation of a law.

Sison, who is in self-exile in Utrecht, was earlier listed by the EU, the Philippine, Canadian and US governments as a terrorist and his communist group’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), as a terrorist organization.

The leaders of the communist rebel movement insist on their removal from the EU list as a precondition to their agreeing to resume the stalled peace talks with the Philippine government.

The terrorist label has prompted the Dutch government and other EU countries to freeze Sison’s bank accounts and cut off all social benefits he enjoyed since his arrival in The Netherlands.

The NPA has been waging an armed rebellion against the Philippine government for 39 years. –Michaela P. del Callar, Daily Tribune