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Beltran calls for resumption of formal peace talks,
sacking of Norberto Gonzales
Anakpawis Party-List
From the Office of Rep. Crispin Beltran
He can be contacted via his cellphone number 092.7871.1080,
Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff, 0919.506.5269
Maureen Hermitanio ,media liaison officer 931.6615
News Release October 4, 2007
As Dutch Appeals court throws out charges vs JMS, Beltran calls for
resumption of formal peace talks between Arroyo govt, NDFP and sacking
of Norberto Gonzales
Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that National
Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez
and the various officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police
(PNP) behind the plot to have National Democratic Front of the
Philippines (NDFP) chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison arrested
and charged with assassinations in the Philippines should be sacked
for incompetence and arrogance. He also said that the Arroyo
government should reopen the formal peace talks.
The Dutch Court of Appeals judges G. Oosterhof, G.P.A. Ale and
F.Heemskerk in their decision reiterated that there was a lack of
direct and sufficient evidence against Prof. Sison to justify his
return to solitary confinement.
The District of the Court had previously dismissed the charges against
Sison also for lack of evidence, but the Ducth prosecutors had filed
an appeal on the insistence of Philippine authorities.
"Sec. Norberto Gonzales over-estimated himself, his abilities and his
influence. His sorry plan to have Prof. Sison incarcerated and
completely scuttle the peace talks between the Macapagal-Arroyo
government and the NDFP has been foiled for the second time. The
continuing political persecution of Prof. Sison has serious
implications on the future of the peace talks and the over-all
negotiations for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines. Instead
of returning to the negotiating table, the Arroyo government, upon the
prodding of war-mongering officials the likes of Gonzales, instigates
malicious legal attacks against the NDFP. It is in the best interest
of the Filipino people for the peace talks to continue, but Gonzales
stands directly in the way of this. He should be axed," he said.
"Gonzales should not be allowed to remain in a position of power and
influence. His war-mongering declarations malicious imputations and
cold-blooded disregard for human rights make him a very dangerous man
and a deterrent to efforts to establish peace in the country."
Beltran said that no right thinking and unbiased court of law would
convict Prof. Sison on the flimsiest evidence and malicious
allegations of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. He said that the
Supreme Court of the Philippines itself had already thrown out the
charges against Sison regarding the Kintanar and Tabara
assassinations.
"Even the Dutch judiciary sees how the charges against Prof. Sison are
politically- motivated, the same way that all the extrajudicial
killings and enforced disappearances in the Philippines are
politically- motivated. All this further emphasizes the repressive
character of the incumbent administration and its political
ruthlessness, " he said.
In the meantime, the activist lawmaker said that the peace talks
between the Arroyo government and the NDFP should resume, and that all
positive efforts must be made to compel the government to return to
the negotiating table.
"The Macapagal-Arroyo government should once and for all stop its
campaign of political repression, the extrajudicial killings and
abductions, and the criminalization of activists. It should instead
call for the resumption of the formal talks in the peace negotiations
which the NDFP. The government should meet halfway the efforts of the
NDFP to negotiate peace and stop the attacks against its leaders and
consultants including Prof. Sison," he said. #
--
Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
Rm.602 South Wing, House of Representatives
Commonwealth, Quezon City
931.6615
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