Sison seeks political asylum

Sison seeks political asylum

MANILA (AFP): The self-exiled founder of the Philippine communist insurgent movement yesterday demanded he be granted political asylum in the Netherlands as a condition for his return to the Philippines.

Jose Maria Sison, in a statement issued from Utrecht, the Netherlands, said that he would only return if he wins an asylum case in the Netherlands and if "there is a fundamental change in the dismal human rights situation in the Philippines."

But he also rejected President Fidel Ramos's calls for him to return for peace talks, saying it would be "political suicide."

The Dutch government earlier this year rejected Sison's appeal for political asylum, a move that would force him to return to the Philippines. However, Sison has appealed the decision in court and is allowed to remain there while the case is pending.

Sison admitted that the government and communist negotiators had discussed forging an agreement on "human rights and international humanitarian law" in preparation for opening peace talks.