IF
A survey were made today regarding who Pinoys think is the most influential
fellow Pinoy in the past century, the name José Maria ‘Joema’
Sison would probably fill a huge chunk of ballots.
You’d likely disagree and say no way can an aging communist
exiled thousands of miles away from the Philippines ever be more popular
than, say, a Nora Aunor or Sharon Cuneta. Influence, however, is far
different from popularity. If we are to ask generations of Filipinos
whose actions and words affected their generation the most, it would
probably be the Ilocano poet-turned-rebel leader.
After all, I have yet to hear anyone being influenced into changing
careers or taking up arms against the government after watching "Himala"
or after hearing "Bituing Walang Ningning." Joema’s
writings and actions had exactly that effect, from the First Quarter
Storm to the People Power 2 generation.
Sure, many disagree with his ideas of Philippine society. But Joema’s
compassion for the millions of disenfranchized Filipinos is unquestionable
when confronted with the fact that the man gave up so much for the
people. He gave up his wealth, a future in traditional politics, a
budding academic and literary career. Joema also endured nine years
of mental and physical torture and solitary incarceration in the hands
of the military from 1977 to 1986.
I’m sure military officials and national security pundits would
agree that Joema had tremendous influence in recent history. The former
University of the Philippines (UP) professor, after all, has been
the number one enemy of the state for ages. One can even say he enormously
influenced decades of military and foreign policy by founding the
longest running insurgency in Asia.
From Marcos’ regime to Macapagal-Arroyo’s, Joema has
always been, shall we say, a royal pain in their bureaucratic necks.
Administrations have constantly blamed the insurgency for their failure
to raise the country from economic ruin. Joema, in their minds, played
a huge role in those failures. What they probably didn’t realize
is that it has always been the other way around. Rebellions certainly
don’t last that long if not fuelled by deep-seated poverty and
decades of government ineptitude in the first place.
Indeed, even those who may not agree with his politics cannot deny
the extent of influence Joema had on generations of Filipino youth,
from the 60s to the present. In 1959, after graduating in AB English
cum laude in UP, Joema spearheaded the 60s nationalist ferment when
he founded the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in 1964. Years later, after
“reestablishing” the Communist Party in 1968, Joema allegedly
wrote Philippine Society and Revolution. This book may very well be
the best-selling outlawed book in history, next perhaps to Rizal’s
El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere during the national hero’s
heyday.
Professor Jose Maria Sison with Senator
Loren Legarda.
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Recently, however, his detractors have been upping the ante in their
decades-old vilification campaign against Joema. After US Secretary
of State Colin Powell’s pompous appearance in Malacañang
to promote his country’s “war on terror” last August,
Joema, the Communist Party, and the New People’s Army (NPA)
found themselves in the US, Canadian, Dutch, and—just weeks
ago—European “terrrorist list.” Now demonized as
the Pinoy Osama bin Laden, Joema’s housing and health care privileges
as a political refugee in the Netherlands were immediately stripped
off him. He has also been targeted for extradition to the US, should
Uncle Sam decide to further flout international law and ask for his
head.
The “terrorist tag,” of course, makes no sense when Philippine
and international laws are considered. In April 1998, the Philippine
Justice Department certified that there are no pending criminal charge
against the communist leader. Joema also does not have any pending
case in the US
According to Powell, the NPA’s inclusion in the terrorist list
is based on the latter’s “[strong opposition to] any US
presence in the Philippines.” The NPA, added Powell, “has
killed US citizens there,” alluding to the killing of US military
adviser Col. James Rowe in Manila in April 1989. Yet, even if Joema
(already in exile during the killing) was somehow involved, international
law nevertheless states that military advisers are legitimate targets
in a war. Such actions cannot be called “terrorist.”
Nevertheless, last October 28, the European Council went on to brand
Joema exactly as such. Rightly so, Joema’s listing drew strong
reactions from militant organizations, Church leaders, and well-meaning
politicians, who viewed the labelling as a drawback to peace efforts.
They fear that the Arroyo administration and the US would soon target
them because like Joema they also happen to be critical of government
policies.
Even Vice President Teofisto Guingona expressed that he didn’t
believe Joema was a terrorist. He said, "One needs to make a
distinction between a rebel who is fighting because of hunger and
perceived injustice, and a terrorist who seeks to sow terror and hatred."
The dubious “terrorist” listing of Joema leads one to
suspect the nature of this so-called “war on terror.”
No doubt, his incisive criticism of US foreign policies irked the
Bush Administration and, by deduction, the Macapagal-Arroyo government.
Such declaration obviously had nothing to do with fighting terrorism
and everything to do with squashing dissent and terrorizing perceived
enemies of the state.
Such “state terrorism” targeted against Joema and militant
oranizations, though, may yet further amplify their influence among
generations of Filipinos. And like Rizal’s heroism outliving
his “filibustero” label, Joema’s pro-people reputation
will likely far outlive Bush and Macapagal-Arroyo’s vindictive
“war of terror."
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The author, a former editor of the Philippine Collegian, currently
writes for Pinoy Weekly.
