On reactions to Joma Sison's arrest

Joma Sison's arrest just merits a single short paragraph in today's papers. In Malaysia whose communist insurgency was crushed by the Brits in their Malayan Emergency in the 1950s, the papers find it anachronistic that someone like Joma Sison is taken seriously. But we contend that Joma Sison is entitled to his liberty of being steadfast to his ideology.

What is definitely more silly is the reaction of the Philippine Left. The rantings of some "revolutionaries" threatening Dutch nationals solidifies the ideological bankruptcy of the Left. The claim of one NPA commander that Dutch nationals will not be harmed is similar to what the Taliban would say.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer's Conrado de Quiros has the sense to write about that Sison must be brought to trial and critiques the silly reaction of the Left. But equating Joma Sison and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is eminently laughable.

This leads us to the conclusion that both are ideologically bankrupt. One hews to Maoist-Leninist thought and one hews to a neoliberalist economic thought.

While I do not agree with Gloriana in many matters, I would go for her on the economic front if only she would not flip-flop for political expediency that betrays her shortsighted policies.

No wonder our Philippines is way behind Malaysia.

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