Joma elated over decision of Dutch court against detention

Communist Party of the Philippines founder Prof. Jose Ma. Sison expressed elation Wednesday over the recent decision of the Dutch Court of Appeals.

Calling it a "triumph of justice", Sison said, "I am elated by the decision of the Court of Appeals rejecting the demand of the Public Prosecutor's Office for my detention."

Sison, chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines who is in self-exile in The Netherlands, is being investigated in connection with the alleged ordering or inciting the killing of fellow communist leaders Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

"The Court of Appeals decision upholds the earlier decision of the District Court of The Hague releasing me from incommunicado detention on the ground that there is no sufficient evidence against me," Sison said.

He added that, "It goes even further by declaring essentially that there is no prima facie evidence against me. It categorically states that there is no direct evidence to link me to the aforesaid killings and that I am not a criminal perpetrator in any sense."

"I hope that soon the Dutch prosecutors drop the false and politically motivated charge against me. The District Court of The Hague and the Court of Appeals have pointed to the lack of direct and sufficient evidence against me in ruling against my return to solitary confinement," he said.