THE threat of President Duterte to arrest peace consultants of the National Democratic Front (NDF) returning from the Netherlands violates the terms of the agreements the Philippine government has signed with the NDF.
This was said by Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay, who noted that Duterte issued the threat at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City on May 31 after the Communist Party of the Philippines ordered the New People’s Army to defend civilian communities in Mindanao under attack by the military.
“Mr. Duterte, your attempt at a strongman persona, especially predictable when addressing the military, is not helping the already concrete gains achieved throughout several rounds of the peace process. Talking tough, threatening peace consultants with arrests and statements that completely disregard the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees [Jasig] are counterproductive. Just and lasting peace is at the best interest of this country, but it is not based on simply surrendering arms but rooted far more deeply in resolving issues of injustice, poverty, landlessness and trespasses against our sovereignty,” Palabay said.
Jasig is among the basic agreements agreed and signed by both the government and the NDF in February 1995.
The document binds both parties and provides safety and immunity guarantees that protect the rights of negotiators, consultants, staff and personnel participating in the peace process.
Palabay added, “The disregard of Jasig, a binding agreement, adds to the lack of conducive, reliable and enabling environment for the continuation of the talks, apart from other major detrimental factors, such as the continuation of rights violations under the counterinsurgency program Oplan Kapayapaan and war against drugs, which was further legitimized by the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Such threats also beg the question: Will the government simply discard signed and binding agreements at their disposal?”
The peace negotiations are already tackling provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (Caser), which will serve as basis for much-needed reforms, such as free land distribution.
“If finalized, Caser can pave the way toward national development which translates to a dignified life for the poor majority in the country,” Palabay said.
“We call on President Duterte to exercise sobriety in his pronouncements, which have profound effects on policies and processes on the ground. We reiterate the call for continue the peacetalks between the government and the NDF,” Palabay added.
1 comment
“This was said by Karapatan Secretary-General Cristina Palabay, who noted
that Duterte issued the threat at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City on May
31 after the Communist Party of the Philippines ordered the New People’s
Army to defend civilian communities in Mindanao under attack by the
military.”
WHO ARE THESE CIVILIANS? God will take revenge against your lies and terrorist activities.