Leftists in Europe ask Dutch govt to leave Joma alone

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Supporters of Jose Maria "Joma" Sison from European countries want the Dutch government to stop any and all proceeding against the Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau reported.

Apart from familiar Filipino personalities that have been present in protests held during Sison’s court appearances during his detention, foreign supporters of the Filipino communist leader joined a peaceful protest in front of the Palace of Justice in The Hague.

Around fifty protesters, majority of which were non-Filipinos, braved the heavy rains as they stood outside the Palace of Justice, demanding the investigations against Sison to stop.

A Dutch national, who only want to be identified as Nick said that the Dutch government should stop the whole procedure immediately.

"I think it’s quite unjust to do this," he told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

"I support the Philippine liberation movement and I support all Dutchmen who are fighting for democratic rights in the Netherlands too. This arresting of Sison is a threat not only to the Philippine liberation movement but also to the democratic movement in the Netherlands, when they say that the Marxist-Leninist is a criminal or is a terrorist. They say it about Sison but they can say it about a Dutch activist in the labor movement and democratic movement," he added.

Another foreigner who also wants to be identified only by her first name Anne, traveled all the way from Germany to show her solidarity with Sison.

"It could also happen to me or anyone else who will be taken to custody without any reason and if it was me, I’m sure anybody else would show his solidarity," she said.

She is from the Solidarity International movement and is also a representative of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany and she’s still confident that there will be justice for Sison.

"I think if there is any justice here, Joma will stay free. There is no reason to take him back to prison again," she said.

A member of the National Democratic Front, Aldo Gonzales, said that indeed Sison has a big following all over the world and that this is because many are sensitive to any injustice done to any individual regardless of his race.

"Maraming foreigners ang sumusuporta kay Joma dahil nga sa injustice na ginagawa sa isang tao na wala namang kasalanan at malinaw na tumutulong din sa mga mahihirap sa Pilipinas sa mga kababayan na inaapi (A lot of foreigners support Joma because of the injustice to a person who has not committed a crime and who clearly works to help his poor and exploited countrymen)," Gonzales said.

"Maraming supporter si Joma. Yung mga hindi nakapunta dito, at least nag-e-express ng support sa email, sa pakikipagsulatan sa kanya, sa pagtawag (He has a lot of supporters. Those who have not been able to come here have at least expressed their support through email, through correspondence and through calls," he added.

Almost all of Sison’s supporters who seem to be regular fixtures in every protest action for the communist leader were present, except for NDF Chair Luis Jalandoni, who is recovering from an appendectomy on Saturday.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=94115