Dutch bank accounts of communist exiles frozen

The government's war against communist rebels received a shot in the arm yesterday when the Netherlands froze all bank accounts and assets held in the name of their leaders living there.

The Dutch Foreign Ministry even asked the European Union to include in its terrorist blacklist the leaders of the National Democratic Front umbrella group and its lead organisations, the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said.

Thirty Filipinos, most of them believed to be with the movement, live in Utrecht. Among them are Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison, who has a pending application for political asylum, and National Democratic Front spokesman Luis Jalandoni, now a Dutch citizen.

With this new development, Mr Golez expressed optimism that both men would have no recourse but to talk peace with the government.

The unprecedented action by the Netherlands came barely five days after the United States had officially declared the Communist Party and its armed wing a 'foreign terrorist organisation'.

The US called on all governments to 'isolate, choke off [its] source of financial support and prevent [these funds'] movement across international borders'. The same day, the US Embassy in the Netherlands delivered a letter requesting a freeze to Dutch authorities. Maurits Tarkuile, spokesman of the Dutch Embassy in Manila, said: 'I believe the US request was sent simultaneously to other countries.'