To
The Government of the Netherlands
-through the Dutch Embassy in Oslo.


PROTEST ON THE DETENTION OF PROFESSOR JOSE MARIA SISON
AND THE HARASSMENT OF SEVERAL NDFP-PERSONALITIES AUGUST 28TH

The party Red, Norway, condemn the arrest yesterday in Utrecht of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chief Consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.We also condem the harassment of other filipinos attached to the NDFP as well as their office in Utrecht.

Professor Sison is a legitimate and recognized political refugee as stated in Article 1 A of the International Refugee Convention. He was forced to seek asylum in The Netherlands in 1987 after the Philippine government confiscated his passport following serious harassment against him because of his political activities.

We consider the real reason for the arrest of Sison as political, not criminal. The Arroyo government, backed by the USA, has for a long time now pushed for the arrest and extradition of Prof. Sison. Sison has been one of the most famous and vocal critics of the Arroyo regime, as he was of the Marcos regime who put him in jail the first time.

We strongly call on the Dutch government to release Professor Sison, and to grant him his rights as a political refugee in accordance with the judgment by the European Court of First Instance last July 11th of annulling the decision of the European Union Council of blacklisting and terror listing Professor Sison.

The Dutch government also take a great responsibility for liquidating the peace process in the Philippine by intervening like this in the struggle in the Philippine.

We hope You will reconsider your position and take a neutral stand, in accordance with international laws of not interfering in the interior political struggles of other countries.


Oslo, August 29th 2007

Sincerely

The party Red, Norway
Arnljot Ask, International Secretary