Foreign advocates call for resumption of peace talks between gov’t, NDFP

“The landlessness of peasants, the lack of decent wages and job opportunities, decent housing and basic social services are weighing down on the lives of the Filipino people and violate their socio-economic rights. Those who resist and work for change are met with political repression by the State. We want the peace negotiations resumed to help resolve such issues.” – International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – Foreign activists from the all over the world called on the Philippine government to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“The landlessness of peasants, the lack of decent wages and job opportunities, decent housing and basic social services are weighing down on the lives of the Filipino people and violate their socio-economic rights. Those who resist and work for change are met with political repression by the State. We want the peace negotiations resumed to help resolve such issues,” the delegates of the International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (ICHRPP) said in a press conference, July 20.

Organized by the International Coordinating Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICCHRP), Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), EcuVoice (Ecumenical Voice for Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines), Peace for Life network and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), the conference gathered more than 250 delegates from 25 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America.

The ICHRRP called for the resumption of peace talks on the basis of previously signed agreements.

The formal peace talks have been stalled since February 2011. The special track for the peace talks has also hit an impasse.

Framework agreement

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, spokesman of the ICHRRP, said: “The problem is that it is the government that attacked the framework document itself by calling the Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 as a document of perpetual division. But this document defines the mutually-agreed upon principles that guide the talks, what the agenda are and the processes that would be followed by the talks. Attacking this basic document creates problems on how to proceed with the talks.”

Anna Claire Morris of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers (left) and Australian law professor Gill Boehringer call on the Philippine government to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / Bulatlat.com)
Anna Claire Morris of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers (left) and Australian law professor Gill Boehringer call on the Philippine government to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / Bulatlat.com)

The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 outlines the framework of the peace talks and lays down the four substantive agenda that include human rights and international humanitarian law, socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and cessation of hostilities and disposition of forces.

In a previous statement, Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Teresita Deles branded the Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 as “a document of perpetual division.”

Anna Claire Morris of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers from the United Kingdom agreed with Casiño. “The description of a joint agreement on the peace talks as divisive is extremely concerning because that joint agreement sets the agreed collaborative framework for the conditions upon which peace can be negotiated, respect for human rights, respect for humanitarian law, protection of those engaged in the peace negotiations. If that’s divisive, somehow then, if I may say, that speaks volumes about the Philippine government’s attitude toward lasting peace because therse are issues that must be respected before any progress could be made,” Morris said.

Violations

Casiño pointed out that the Government of the Philippines (GPH) violated the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig), citing the arrest of several NDFP consultants and staff. “If the NDFP cannot depend on the guarantees for its negotiators and team of negotiators, it would be difficult to proceed with the talks,” he said.

He also cited violations to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

Meanwhile, a law professor from Australia Gill Boehringer called on the media to see through government rhetoric.

“We know that the Aquino administration has hired a handful of media communication specialists at great cost. They spew out propaganda, which a lot of media have followed. What has actually happened? The arrest and detention of consultants in the peace process. There are more than 400 political prisoners.” Boehringer said.

Boehringer said that despite the passage of the Anti-Torture Law, Anti-Disappearance Act, human rights violations continue. “I am actually surprised that the people expect this government to enter into peace talks. Why would you trust them with the record that they have and the broken promises that Noynoy [Aquino] had made,” he said.

Casiño reiterated the need to proceed with the talks based on the previous agreements. “The Aquino government’s new approach, using local peace talks combined with counterinsurgency efforts, that would get the peace talks nowhere,” Casiño said.

Earlier this month, eight peace groups – the Sulong CARHRIHL, Pilgrims for Peace, Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP),Waging Peace Philippines, Generation Peace Youth Network, Women Engaged in Action 1325, Initiatives for International Dialogue, and Philippine Peace Center – issued a joint statement demanding a resumption of the talks, saying, “Time is of the essence. End the prolonged impasse. Resume the talks, now.”

To exert pressure on the Aquino administration, the delegates of the ICHRRP will join the mobilization during the State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22. is story is from Bulatlat.com” src=”https://www.bulatlat.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bulatlat_tagline.jpg” alt=”(https://www.bulatlat.com)” height=”16″ />

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