Members of Tweede Kamer (Parliament) Receive Petition on Prof. Sison

Three members of the Tweede Kamer, Henk de Haan (CDA), member of the Commissie van Buitenlandsezaken, Femke Hulsema (vice-fractievoorzitter Groenlinks), member of the Commissie van Justitie, and Jan de Wit (SP), member of Enquêtecommissie Bouwnijverheid, received a delegation from the Comite DEFEND that is fighting for the rights of Prof. Jose Maria Sison who is being persecuted by the US and Dutch governments.

The Comite DEFEND delegation was composed of Dominee Hans Visser of the Paulus Kerk of Rotterdam, Theo Droog of the Nederlands-Filippijnse Solidariteitsbeweging (NFS) and Coni Ledesma of the NDFP International Information Office. They presented to the members of the Tweede Kamer a letter addressed to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende signed by 22 members of the European Parliament from Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden expressing concern over the violation of Prof. Sison's rights and the threat of total collapse of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as a result of the Dutch government decision to include the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People's Army (NPA) in its list of terrorist organizations.

The delegation also presented a petition letter to the Tweede Kamer asking it to withdraw the Dutch government's listing of the CPP/NPA and Jose Maria Sison as "terrorists" and to support the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations which the Dutch government has hosted in the past. The petition letter also urges the Tweede Kamer to press the Balkenende government to rectify the wrongs done to Prof. Sison and restore all his rights as a recognized political refugee that has been curtailed as a result of his being listed as a terrorist.

Earlier, the Comite DEFEND and more than sixty supporters held a picket in front of the Tweede Kamer. A man wearing the mask of US President George Bush attracted the attention of passers-by and curious onlookers. On his chest was written, "No. 1 terrorist".

The three members of the Tweede Kamer promised to study the petition and see what they can do.

Jan de Wit had earlier posed questions inside parliament to the Balkenende government to explain its action of placing the CPP/NPA and Prof. Sison on the terrorist list. De Wit informed the Comite DEFEND delegation that he is still awaiting the response from PM Balkenende.

Femke Hulsema told the delegation that she has been closely following the case of Prof. Sison and promised to see what she could do to help. #

Committee DEFEND
Postbus 15687, 1001 ND Amsterdam
Tel: 030-2368722, Fax: 030-2322989
Email: defenddemrights@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.defendsison.be