Slap in the Wrist

No Political Persecution:

An article has been electronically going around concerning the recent trial and acquittal of Jose Ma. Sison in the Netherlands for murder. The charge alleged that Mr. Sison ordered the execution of two ex-members of the communist party of the Philippines. The article, no doubt, coming from any one of the cause-oriented groups adoring Mr. Sison, scored the Netherland government for political persecution.

Lest their rhetoric becomes more ludicrous as it is now, it is worthwhile to note that Jose Ma. Sison founded the communist party of the Philippines in the ‘60s and has been espousing the overthrow of the country’s democratic institution since then. Captured and incarcerated during the Marcos years, he was freed, as a gesture of reconciliation,  when Cory Aquino took over as   president. Subsequently, he was allowed to travel overseas with the condition that he comes back and help in rebuilding the nation. Typical of his ideology, which is founded on lies, he sought, and was granted political asylum in the Netherlands, instead of coming back. Now he is enjoying the best of both worlds. He is safely ensconced within the strong democratic walls of his adopted country while continuing to urge his fanatics in the Philippines to continue with their class struggle.

It is impossible to take accurate count of the lives lost, destroyed families, lost business opportunities and properties damaged beyond repair, because of Mr. Sison’s desire to achieve something he could never do through a civilized world’s route to power – the elections. The irony is that while his cheeks radiate of the richness of his environment, his guerrillas suffer untold misery from lack of food, separation from families, constant running to put a distance between them and the military. Once in a while the thuggery in them come to national attention when they burn some telecommunications towers or  passenger buses for not paying revolutionary taxes.

Despite the evil Mr. Sison has spawned, his fans are crying political harassment. If there is, it would be a slap in the wrist vis-à-vis the damage he has done.