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De Rooie Rat, Politieke Boekhandel
in Utrecht, the Netherlands to host “A Revolutionary is not a Terrorist”
featuring Jose Maria Sison and Ninotchka Rosca
For immediate release, December 1, 2004
On 9 December 2004, the eve of International Human Rights Day, Jose Maria
Sison and Ninotchka Rosca, authors of the recently released book Jose
Maria Sison: At Home in the World, Portrait of a Revolutionary will be
at De Rooie Rat, Politieke Boekhandel in Utrecht, the Netherlands to partake
in “A Revolutionary is not a Terrorist,” a program and book signing of
the new and controversial book.
This event is timely and important on the eve of International Human Rights
Day as it shall serve as a reminder that gross human rights violations
continue to occur. The life of Jose Maria Sison is a stark example of
how certain states, including the Netherlands, can completely disregard
a person’s human rights.
Under the pretext of anti-terrorism, the US and other governments are
viciously violating Sison’s rights, including the right to the essentials
of human existence, the right to do compensated work, the right to due
process and the right against slander and character assassination and
the right to be secure from the threats of death, torture, inhuman and
degrading treatment or punishment.
On August 12, 2002, almost one year after the September 11 terrorist attacks
in the US, Sison was arbitrarily added as a "Specially Designated
Terrorist" to the US Treasury Department's list along with the Communist
Party of the Philippines (of which he is the founding chairman) and the
New People's Army. Australia, Canada, The Netherlands and the European
Union blindly followed the call of the US and also listed Sison on their
“terrorist” lists. As one of the many outcomes, he lost all housing, health
and food allowance benefits in the Netherlands where he has been living
in exile since 1987.
Further, Sison requested several times access to “secret documents” being
used by the Council of the European Union in their decision to put him
on the terrorist list. But his democratic right to see documents about
his case was violated as Sison was denied access upon each request.
Despite these attacks against him, Sison continues to fight and uphold
his human rights. “I am inspired to fight those who violate my rights
not only because I have all the right to do so but because of the far
greater interest of so many Filipinos and others in the world who suffer
the ever worsening conditions of exploitation and oppression,” stated
Sison at a recent solidarity event in the Netherlands.
Sison, with co-author Ninotchka Rosca, internationally-acclaimed award
winning Filipina author, will be together at the De Rooie Rat for the
program which shall include cultural performances and messages from the
authors. Both authors will be available for book signings and photo opportunities.
“A Revolutionary is not a Terrorist”
9 December 2004
1800 h
De Rooie Rat, Politieke Boekhandel
Oudegracht 65
3511 AD Utrecht
Tel 030 231 7189
For more information contact Chico or Leah at 030-231-0431 or 0638200157
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