Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Joma Sison: 'I'll die with my boots on'

From Rappler (Dec 30): Joma Sison: 'I'll die with my boots on'

The founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines opens up about his health, why he is a 'refugee in orbit', and his views on some issues in his homeland

JOMA SISON. The founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines says his status in the Netherlands is a 'refugee in orbit.' Photo by Fritzie Rodriguez/Rappler

JOMA SISON. The founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines says his status in the Netherlands is a 'refugee in orbit.' Photo by Fritzie Rodriguez/Rappler 

UTRECHT, Netherlands – It is around 14 degrees in the sleepy town of Utrecht, over 6,000 miles away from scorching 30-degree Manila. Jose Maria Sison is dressed in a red sweater, spewing out tales of capitalism and marxism in between questions.

At 76, the founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines is hard of hearing. Behind his glasses, one eye is recovering from a cataract operation; the other, set to undergo the same procedure in January.

He is also wary of high blood pressure and pneumonia.

But the old man remains sharp, with his hands slightly pounding the table occasionally to stress a point. He shares his thoughts either with visitors or on Facebook, which he is fond of these days.

He sits comfortably, with a big flag of the National Democratic Front (NDF) hanging behind him. Beside the book shelves are bikes parked against the walls. Sison acts as a chief political consultant to the NDF.

Refugee in orbit

He is currently a “refugee in orbit,” he says, as he offers cups of coffee in the NDF information bureau. The office is used by the NDF negotiating panel and also serves as Sison’s home.

Refugees in orbit are those reshuffled from one host country to another, without a stable refuge. “I’m, in fact, grounded here,” he says.

Sison applied for political asylum, with the highest administrative court recognizing him as a political refugee in 1992. This makes him entitled to “absolute protection” under the European Convention on Human Rights.

“I cannot be sent out of the Netherlands, not even to a third country, because that would put me at risk of being sent to the country where I came from, where I face the possibility of torture, inhuman and cruel treatment,” Sison explains, recalling his suffering during the Marcos regime.

“After the Marcos period, I’m still ‘wanted.’ So many charges being made against me,” he adds. “Every time there is an incident in the Philippines involving the NPA, it’s listed as a case against me.” (READ: Joma Sison on 2016 elections)

Here is Sison’s take on a few issues in his homeland:

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program

Ang taktika raw diyan, alamin kung saan malakas ang NPA, tapos ‘yun ang bubuhusan nila ng pera,” Sison says. “Alamin nila sino kamag-anakan ng NPA, bibigyan nila ng special concession.

(The supposed tactic there is to determine where the NPA is strong, and to pour funds there. They would track down NPA relatives and give them special concession.)

Pero ang kabutihan para sa NPA, corrupt ‘yung burukrasyang militar. ‘Di talaga nag-spread ang pera, nag-iimbento ng indigents na binigyan ng pera.” (READ: COA report on 4Ps)

(The tactic there is to know where NPA is strong, then that’s where they put more money. They find out who are the relatives of the NPA, and give them special concession. But the good thing for the NPA there is that the military bureaucracy is corrupt. The money doesn’t spread, indigents receiving money are invented.)

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or conditional cash transfer is the Aquino administration’s flagship poverty reduction program. It provides cash grants to families as long as they send their children to school and health check-ups.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) releases the money to qualified beneficiaries.

SAF 44

“If ceasefire is maintained with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) on the expectations of MILF will receive so much, will benefit so much from BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law), the ceasefire is maintained so that more troops will be placed in Eastern Mindanao,” Sison explains.

“Of course, [the plan] was upset when you have a stupid president, he appoints a suspended police general to be in overall command and no compassion for anyone. He was already told that the SAF (Special Action Force) will be put in danger in Mamasapano.”

“‘MILF was also not consulted, so there’s a problem,” he adds. “The plan to add more troops in Eastern Mindanao was upset.”

According to Sison, the government estimates that 40% of the total national strength of the New People’s Army (NPA) is in Eastern Mindanao, which is why more troops are to be deployed in the area. “They will concentrate 55 to 60% of the total strength, they will defeat [NPA], and that will inflict a crippling blow.”

Peace talks, retirement

What would make the peace talks with communist rebels successful in the coming years?

For Sison, it’s a leader who understands the position of the communist movement, which stands for “national independence and democracy.”

Sison adds that a secular-minded leader is crucial in the peace talks.

“[Someone who is] open to what is reasonable and just. Not those with religious conviction or ideological conviction that by all means you have to defeat the communists.”

Asked about the future, Sison says he still wants to explore the "socialist future based on the unraveling of neoliberalism and wars of aggression."

Will he be retiring soon?

"I wanted to step down from ILPS (International League of Peoples' Struggle) but they said for me to stay, so I did," Sison says.

"I'll die with my boots on," he quips.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/117292-joma-sison-philippine-issues

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