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BRIEF MESSAGES & LETTERS, 2001 - Present |
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Statement of Prof. Jose Maria Sison General Consultant It is my strong desire to be with you in Thessaloniki in order to participate in activities for denouncing the "neoliberal globalization" of unbridled imperialist plunder and the "new world disorder" of imperialist wars of aggression and state terrorism and for seeking ways for the broad masses of the people to achieve national and social liberation. Thus, I have applied for laissez passer (permit to travel) from the foreign ministry of the Dutch government since 5 June 2003. But this ministry has refused to approve my application. It is now absolutely clear that I cannot go to Thessaloniki. I therefore express my regrets to the Greek and international organizations that have invited me to participate in their activities. At the same time, I welcome the reports that preparations are being made to protest the curtailment of my freedom to travel and freedom to express and share my ideas and with the delegations of anti-imperialist and democratic organizations now gathered in Thessaloniki. The violation of my democratic rights, including the attack on my basic human right to life through deprivation of employment and social welfare benefits for essential needs, and further threats against my life and liberty are clear manifestations of the cruelty and barbarism of the imperialist governments of the US and the European Union. These are the result of the chain of "terrorist" listings made by the US, Dutch, British, Australian and Canadian governments and most recently by the European Council. Following the baton of the US, the Dutch and other European governments are doing everything within their power to deprive me of the protection guaranteed by the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. By listing the New People’s Army and the NDFP Chief Political Consultant as "terrorist", the European Council has sabotaged the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the NDFP and has run counter to the 1997 and 1999 resolutions of the European Parliament supporting said negotiations. It is emboldening the US to engage in military intervention in the Philippines, re-acquire military basing rights and further wreak havoc on the lives of the Filipino people. Under the pretext of combating terrorism, the US and its imperialist allies are whipping up chauvinism, racism, fascism and wars of aggression to obscure the roots of the crisis of the world capitalist system. The relations among imperialist powers are characterized by collusion and collision. They collude against the people. And they collide in grabbing the spoils. I remain grateful for the invitation to go to Thessaloniki and likewise for your continuing defense of my democratic rights. Even as I am not physically there, I consider myself present among you because we share similar anti-imperialist and democratic ideas and views. I am happy to know that your defense of my democratic rights is in the context of defending the rights of the peoples of Europe and the whole world against the escalating exploitativeness, aggressiveness and repressiveness of the imperialist powers headed by the superterrorist, the United States of America. ### |
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