Igalang ang karapatang pantao ni Joma Sison

Naaresto noong Agosto 28 sa The Netherlands si Jose Maria Sison–manunulat, makata at rebolusyunaryo. Pag-uutos daw sa pagpatay sa dalawang dating kasamahan ang kaso laban sa kanya.

Mula sa pamilya ng mga panginoong maylupa sa Ilocos Sur, tinalukuran ni Sison ang maalwang buhay at hinamon ang umiiral na kaayusan sa ating lipunan. Itinatag niya ang Kabataang Makabayan upang isulong ang ganap na pambansang kasarinlan at demokrasya.

Siya rin ang pangulong tagapagtatag ng bagong Communist Party of the Philippines. Sinasabi ng military na si Sison pa rin ang pinuno ng CPP ngayon pero itinatanggi ito ng kilusang komunista.

Si Sison ay isa sa mga pinakakilalang nagtapos sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas. Naging pangulo siya ng UP Journalism Club na kinabilangan ko rin sa UP. May ilang ulit ko rin siyang nakapanayam sa telepono at sa e-mail.

Tinatawag siyang terorista ng rehimeng Arroyo at ilang dayuhang gobyerno. Ngunit itinuturing siyang lider at inspirasyon ng napakaraming Pilipino.

Ilang henerasyon ng mga mag-aaral at aktibista sa loob at labas ng UP ang nabigyang-inspirasyon ng kanyang mga ideya at panulat. Hindi maitatanggi ninuman, maging ng mga kritiko o kasama niya, na may mahalagang papel siyang ginampanan at ginagampanan sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa.

Ngayong nakakulong si Prof. Sison, nakikiisa tayo sa panawagang igalang ng Dutch at Philippine governments ang kanyang mga karapatang pantao.

May profile at mga balita tungkol sa pagkahuli kay Prof. Sison sa GMANews.tv.

Samantala, nasa ibaba ang pahayag ng Anakbayan. Nakuha ko ito sa isang kaibigang kasapi ng organisasyong iyon, at inilathala na rin namin sa Tinig.com:

Joma Arrest Will Spark Another “Red Moon Rising” Among Youth and Students

Anakbayan press statement on the arrest of Prof. Sison

Youth group Anakbayan strongly condemns the arrest of former student leader Prof. Jose Maria Sison and the raid on the houses and offices of NDF personalities by the Dutch government.

The arrest of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) founding chairman would spark another “red moon rising” in the ranks of youth and student democracy-fighters and civil libertarians. Youth and students who believe in the legacy and continuing relevance of the KM stand firm in their support for Prof. Sison.

Prof. Sison was arrested and detained by Dutch police for “incitement to murder in the Philippines”. We, however, have reason to believe that Dutch authorities in connivance with the Philippine government did the arrest and raids.

Prof. Sison has long been a victim of political persecution since the Philippine government started pushing for his inclusion in the European terrorist listing. This move is yet another attempt to pin him down with trumped up, recycled charges that they have time and again failed to legally or politically corroborate.

Anakbayan joins other freedom-loving peoples nationwide and around the world in demanding his release soon. The Philippine government should be warned of coming up against a youth and student uprising similar to what Prof. Sison led during the 70s; a red moon rising for youth and student activists of the present generation.

Anakbayan also calls on all its affiliate and ally youth organizations around the world to express their strongest condemnation against Prof. Sison’s arrest.