A new assembly of peace advocates called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to “clearly and unqualifiedly commit” to negotiating peace with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) when he delivers his next State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 22.
The Council of Leaders for Peace Initiative (CLPI) on its founding assembly said a just peace is imperative for a better state of the nation, one that may be pursued through a negotiated solution to the long-running armed conflict in the country.
The group’s members said they welcomed the simultaneous announcement of both the Marcos Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP for possible formal peace talks resumption last November 23 that “generated much hope and optimism among peace advocates.”
It added that the optimism was also felt by the most “adversely affected” by the armed conflict such as the rural poor and indigenous peoples’ communities.
CLPI however said they have not heard any positive development since then on the prospects for the resumption of formal peace negotiations.
“We are concerned that this silence indicates a return to the policy of all-out war by the government, aimed at crushing the revolutionary movement using the armed might of the state. Indeed, in the wake of this policy, grievous violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are the undeniable and unacceptable consequences,” it said.
State of war
In their simultaneous announcement of dialogues for the possible resumption of formal peace negotiations last November, the NDFP and the GRP said they aim to hold a dialogue in the first quarter of this year.
The parties’ respective press conferences—in Utrecht, The Netherlands for the NDFP and in Malacañan Palace in Manila for the GRP—were accompanied by a statement by the Royal Norwegian Government, Third Party Facilitator for the peace process confirming the holding of dialogues between the Marcos Jr. GRP and the NDFP.
WHAT WENT BEFORE: GRP, NDFP announce possible resumption of peace talks
There has been no further information from the parties since then.
The GRP, mainly through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has however released several predictions on the “strategic defeat” of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by the end of 2024.
On Monday, July 15, AFP chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr. again predicted the CPP and the New People’s Army’s demise “to irrelevance by year end.”
The CPP meanwhile set to motion its third rectification movement last December 26 aimed at “arresting setbacks” it suffered in recent years.
READ: CPP on AFP’s claim of strategic victory over the NPA: ‘Dream on’
The CLPI however cautioned against the AFP’s military claims that the CPP-NPA’s remaining armed forces have been significantly reduced and are bound for defeat.
“History shows that armed conflict —rooted in widening socioeconomic and political disparities — persists precisely because those conditions lead to social unrest and lends credence and justness to the revolutionary cause,” the group said.
Accompaniment to the peace talks
Launched at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City on Tuesday, the CLPI is a new group of highly accomplished individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise “committed to promoting transformative peace.”
“[The CLPI] is a collaborative effort dedicated to accompanying and supporting the peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDFP,” the group said of itself.
CLPI is composed of former Commision on Human Rights Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, Dr. Melba Maggay, Dean Manny Quibod, former Negros Occidental Gov. Lito Cosculluela, Atty. Leo Malagar, Koko Alviar, Dr. Mike Tan, Chris Millado, Bp. Ruby-nell Estrella, Bp. Colin Bagaforo, Abp. Jose Palma, Samira Gutoc, Rose Hajahay, Guiamel Mato Alim, former Ambassador Victoria Bataclan, Mitzi Tan, and Atty. Tony M.A. La Viña.
The group said it believes GRP’s prioritization of its all-out war policy over providing for basic social services such as health, education, affordable housing and economic development programs that address the plight of the poor and disadvantaged is “a folly.”
“This can only lead to exacerbating the roots of armed conflict. We are also alarmed that this militarist policy extends to civil society in its legitimate role to critique government policies and rightfully advocate for reforms,” it said.
The group said it denounces the use of red-tagging, the filing of unwarranted criminal cases including charges of “terrorism” and “financing terrorism”, and other forms of political harassment against cause-oriented groups and activists, development workers, human rights defenders as well as journalists.
CLPI added that in light of heightening rivalry and tension between big foreign powers especially in the Asia-Pacific region, it is high time to pursue all avenues, especially peaceful ones, to address and bring to a negotiated solution the ongoing armed conflict to unite Filipinos and muster resources towards forging an independent and peaceful foreign policy.
“We reiterate our urgent call for the resumption of formal GRP-NDFP peace negotiations without preconditions, on the basis of previously inked bilateral agreements, and bolstered by confidence and trust building measures from both Parties,” it said.
The group also called for the appointment by the GRP of its negotiating panel and for the release of NDFP peace consultants who will help reconstitute the NDFP panel.
“The CLPI offers its full support for this urgent endeavour,” it said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
