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Joma terror delisting, free land distribution among agreements in third round of talks

ROME, Italy—The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and government negotiators are set to end their third round of formal talks today on a successful note with advances on the substantive agenda and new goodwill measures included in the prospective Rome Joint Statement.

NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and his Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) counterpart Silvestre Bello III said their joint statement will include the signing of the supplemental guidelines on the Joint Monitoring Committee as well as agreements on the ground rules for future negotiations on socio-economic and political and constitutional reforms.

They also agreed to hold a special meeting in The Netherlands in February 22 or 24 to discuss the GRP proposal for a bilateral ceasefire.

“This round is turning out to be a success, despite the apparent sabotage with the killing of the activists in Negros Occidental and Surigao del Norte and the attack on the NPA (New People’s Army) encampment in North Cotabato,” Agcaoili said.

Joma Sison delisting

Bello for his part revealed that the joint statement shall include a request to the United States of America (USA) that NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison be delisted from its terror list.

“We have a basis (for such request), considering he is in the process, the peace talks, which negates the character of a terrorist,” Bello said.

Bello said it is important for Sison to be able to travel outside of Europe in response to GRP President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement he is willing to meet his former professor in any neutral Asian country.

NDFP panel member Benito Tiamzon and consultant Wilma Austria welcomed the move saying it would help in the negotiations.

“We have long been saying that the revolutionary movement, the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA, most especially Prof. Sison are not terrorists,” Tiamzon said.

“It is also important that President Duterte is saying he is independent of the US and this is one concrete step showing he really is independent,” Tiamzon added.

Sison has yet to issue a statement on the development.

Painstaking SER negotiations

NDFP socio-economic reforms Reciprocal Working Committee (RWC) spokesperson and agrarian and rural development focal person Randall Echanis said their bilateral meetings with their GRP counterparts have taken a few steps forward.

“For the first time, the GRP has submitted a comprehensive draft and we have agreed that both our drafts would be discussed with a matrix comparing both versions,” Echanis said.

Echanis also said that the Preamble and Declaration of Principles mostly based on the NDFP draft has already been agreed upon by the Reciprocal Workings Committees (RWC).

“We have identified commonalities on the Bases, Scope and Applicability provisions of our respective drafts and these are three important parts that our bilateral negotiations have disposed with,” Echanis said.

Echanis also revealed that the GRP has agreed in principle that there should be free land distribution to farmers, subject to consultations with other government agencies.

“We are for free land distribution while the GRP is for land distribution at least cost to the farmers.  We met halfway by saying the compensation should not come from the farmers but from the government,” he said.

“They said the NDFP draft’s use of the word of ‘confiscation’ is unconstitutional.  We clarified that land grabbed with use of violence and intimidation should be confiscated without compensation but we have no question with just compensation for landlords whose land was accumulated through just means,” Echanis clarified.

Echanis said the NDFP had been meeting GRP halfway in their negotiations as long as the essence and principle of agrarian reform is not compromised.

The closing ceremony of the third round is expected to be held at three o’clock local time (nine o’clock in the evening, Philippine time).

The fourth round of NDFP-GRP formal peace talks shall be held in April in Oslo, Norway. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

LARAWAN: 6th day of the GRP NDFP peace talks

Rome, Italy
January 24, 2017

GRP submits proposal for bilateral ceasefire deal; NDFP files complaint on Makilala clash

ROME, Italy— The peace negotiating panels exchanged documents today on the bilateral ceasefire proposal of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the formal complaint of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) regarding the Makilala clash last January 21.

Convening the ad hoc ceasefire committee on the fifth day of the formal talks, the parties each received from the other the documents in a brief meeting.

GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III said he is encouraged by the NDFP’s reception to their bilateral ceasefire proposal, one of the government’s major objectives in this round of talks.

“The NDFP said we will discuss our bilateral ceasefire proposal on February 22 or 24 in The Netherlands,” Bello revealed.

“I find their response reasonable,” Bello said.

Bello also revealed that the final date of their meeting next month would depend of the availability of a Dutch archbishop who will be the caretaker of the reconstituted list of NDFP Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) protected consultants and peace process participants.

“I will witness the NDFP’s submission of their list of holders of documents of identification,” Bello said.

Both parties agreed last August at the first round of formal talks in Oslo, Norway to a reconstituted list after the encrypted original list’s pass key was corrupted by a raid conducted by the Dutch police of the NDFP International Office in August 28, 2007.

The NDFP in turn submitted to the GRP Panel a letter of protest in relation to the Makilala, North Cotabato clash between the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (PA) and the New People’s Army (NPA).

NDFP panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoili called the Makilala clash “a clear breach of the GRP’s own unilateral ceasefire declaration.”

A 33-year old NPA fighter was confirmed killed while Lt. Gen. Rey Guerrero, commanding officer of Eastern Mindanao Command of the AFP, denied eight PA soldiers were killed as alleged by the NPA’s Rigoberto Sanchez.

The GRP reportedly told the NDFP they will study the protest letter and wait for the official report from the AFP. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

MEME: Fidel Agcoili on PPs

Makilala encounter gives more ground for Reds to suspend unilateral ceasefire, says NDFP

ROME, Italy—The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) offensive operation against a unit of the New People’s Army in Makilala, North Cotabato yesterday may give the Communist Party of the Philippines ground to suspend its unilateral ceasefire declaration, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating Panel chairperson said.

In a press briefing, Fidel Agcaoili said that it appears there is deliberate and systematic sabotage of the ongoing formal peace talks in this city.

“What is happening is similar to what happened in 2005 to 2006 where many activists were killed, presided by the very same people like National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon and AFP Chief of Staff Eduardo Año,” Agcaoili said.

Aside from the hour-long clash that killed 33-year of New People’s Army fighter Rojet Ranara, Agcaoili also cited the killing of National Federation of Sugar Workers leader Alexander Ceballos and Katribu Party Surigao del Norte provincial coordinator Veronico Delamente last January 20.

“These attacks are putting the NPA in a tough position. The AFP are occupying communities, enforcing food blockades and preventing the farmers from going to their farmlands,” Agcaoili said.

The NDFP Panel chief said the Makilala clash was a clear AFP raid of an NPA encampment as evidenced by the photographs of backpacks and rifles posted online by the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

“This is a speculation on my part, but there appears to be sabotage of the peace process.  If such is the case, the continuation of the ceasefire is becoming untenable,” Agcaoili said.

But Agcaoili clarified it is not the NDFP which would suspend their ceasefire declaration.

“The six-month standing ceasefire was declared by the CPP and the NPA upon our recommendation.  It would be up to them to suspend it based on their appreciation of the realities on the ground,” he clarified.

“The NDFP is preparing a letter of protest and we will issue a statement on the matter after,” Agcaoili said.

Bilateral ceasefire

GRP Negotiating Panel member Rene Sarmiento said the Makilala incident is not only the first test case of the newly-signed supplemental guidelines to the Joint Monitoring Committee but is another reason to forge a GRP-NDFP bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“There is more reason to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement to be guided on what constitutes a violation. For instance, which areas are covered by the ceasefire and which are not,” Sarmiento said.

The Left’s chief peace negotiator said the NDFP is still open to discuss bilateral ceasefire proposals.

“We are set to receive the GRP’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire (tomorrow) and we can even propose a future date for its discussion,” Agcaoili said.

He clarified however that the signing of a bilateral ceasefire agreement in this round is unlikely.

“It would not be during this round, unless Pres. Duterte declares he will release all political prisoners tomorrow,” Agcaoili said.

He added that the bilateral ceasefire agreement is dependent on the GRP’s compliance of the requisites.

“If the GRP really wants a bilateral ceasefire agreement, it should release all the political prisoners and stop their violations of their own ceasefire declaration,” Agcaoili added.

He recalled that it was Duterte who personally promised him the release of the political prisoners in May 14 and May 26 in Davao City.

But Agcaoili said Duterte admitted in their meeting in Malacañang last January 2 that the release of political prisoners is “unacceptable to the GRP military.”

Magagalit ang militar (The military will be angry),” Duterte reportedly told Agcaoili.

“If such is the case, we can just talk while fighting,” Agcaoili said.

Agcaoili recalled that the NDFP succeeded in signing 14 major agreements with the Fidel Ramos GRP even without a ceasefire agreement.

Talks successful

Agcaoili said that the ongoing peace talksis turning out to be a success.

“We have so far signed the supplemental agreement on the Joint Monitoring Committee and there are advances in the discussions on socio-economic and political and constitutional reforms,” he said.

The third round of formal peace talks in this city is scheduled to close on Wednesday with the possible signing of the ground rules on the discussion of socio-economic reforms and a joint statement. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Justice, land reform still elusive 30 years after Mendiola massacre

ON January 22, 1987, farmers led by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) marched to Mendiola to demand genuine agrarian reform from the newly-installed Corazon Aquino administration.

There, they were met by a multitude of police and military. While the farmers held a peaceful program, state forces proceeded to shoot at the protesters, leaving thirteen dead and at least fifty injured.

The massacre also led to the breakdown of the peace talks between the Aquino government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Agricultural workers were only calling for genuine agrarian reform, but the landlords and hacienderos responded with violence,” said Danilo Ramos, secretary-general of Unyon ng Manggagawang Agrikultura (UMA). “Until now, there is no justice for the victims of the massacre.”

Ramos drew parallels between the 1987 Mendiola massacre and today’s farmers who still experience state violence as they continue to demand for their rights. “The situation has not changed greatly. The demand for genuine agrarian reform remains relevant to this day,” Ramos said.

The Mendiola massacre was investigated in succeeding years, but the government findings were inconclusive. Tessie Arjona, widow of a Mendiola massacre victim, now calls on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to reopen the case made against the perpetrators.

“We were only calling for land. Why did they have to use violence against us?” Arjona asked.”Pres. Duterte must put on trial the military and police officers who killed my husband and bring about justice, even after all these years,” she said.

 Little victories

Farmers from Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and other nearby areas held a protest Friday in Mendiola to commemorate the 30thanniversary of the massacre.

Rafael Mariano, secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform and who was part of the Mendiola protest in 1987, assured the demonstrators that his agency would continue to assist farmers in their struggle for genuine land reform, in the face of abusive landlords and officials.

Since his appointment in 2016, Mariano has opened the national office of DAR to farmers, convened the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) for the first time in 10 years, and distributed hundreds of hectares of land to peasants. The issue of genuine land reform is also a major agenda in the ongoing peace talks between the Duterte administration and the NDFP.

These are little victories, Mariano said, but reminded that farmers need to continue their vigilance and action in their struggle for real land reform. “The best thing that peasants should still rely on is still their continued organized struggle for genuine agrarian reform,” Mariano said. # (Abril Layad B. Ayroso)

Progressive groups storm US embassy to protest Trump at inauguration.

Members of people’s groups in the Philippines protested in front of the United States embassy Friday in time for the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th American president.

Protesters led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) condemned Trump, calling him “the new face of imperialism” and “a symbol of sexism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination”.

According to JP Rosos, national spokesperson of the League of Filipino Students, “Trump is a fascist and far right. The global community can only expect intensified neoliberal attacks and wars of aggression against them, as the defining characteristics of imperialism remain.”

Former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casino drew comparisons between Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama. “When Obama was elected, he was touted as a progressive leader who promised a kinder USA,” he said. “However, he broke all his promises and fell short of being progressive.”

“One can only imagine what may happen under Trump, who does not even try to pretend to appear progressive,” Casino added.

Global effects

Monique Wilson, convenor of One Billion Rising-Philippines, explained why Filipinos are joining the protests against the new US president.

“We stand not just for us,” she said, “But also for our oppressed brethren in America who will feel the brunt of the discriminatory policies of the Trump administration against their democratic rights.”

Casino shared that there are people who ask why Filipinos should care about something not directly affecting our country. “We have to remember that we are part of the global community, and that community is fighting against US imperialism, which Donald Trump represents,” Casino said.

“You do not need to be American to stand against Trump,” he added.

Conflicting interests

The protesters also called on Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to start taking concrete actions towards an independent foreign policy. Duterte had previously criticized the US government, until Trump’s victory at the election.

The president praised the newly-elected Trump in November, creating fears that he would bow to US interests in contrast to his former pronouncements. This also does not align with the agenda of independent foreign policy being discussed in the ongoing peace process with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Progressive groups are also critical of Trump’s militaristic attitude towards other countries, including the Philippines. According to Casino, Trump allegedly plans to station more US troops and warships in the county. “This will not only increase tensions in the South China Sea, but also continue the violations of the US military in the Philippines,” Casino said.

Casino also said that Trump’s protection of American corporations and banks would allow them to plunder the Philippines’ wealth further, and that Duterte must act against Trump’s moves to push US corporate interests in the country.

“Pres. Duterte must stand for the interests of the Filipino people against US imperialism, not the reverse,” he said. (Abril Layad B. Ayroso)

Karapatan: Attacks to sabotage talks?

ROME, Italy—The death of two activists and a New People’s Army (NPA) fighter in the Philippines since the ongoing round of formal talks began last January 19 may be the work of peace saboteurs, a human rights group said.

“Are these attacks efforts to sabotage the peace talks?” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay asked in reaction to the killing of peasant leader Alexander Ceballos in Murcia, Negros Occidental and Veronico Lapsay Delamente in Claver, Surigao del Norte last January 20 as well as the military operation that killed an NPA fighter in Makilala, North Cotabato last January 21.

“The killing of Ceballos and Delamente are cases of human rights violations while the military operation in Makilala is a violation of the reciprocal ceasefire agreements,” Palabay said.

Ceballos, a leader of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, was gunned down in his home in Barangay Pandan Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental by a masked goon reportedly in the employ of former Don Salvador Benedicto town mayor Nehemias dela Cruz.

Delamente, a Mamanwa leader and member of Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong mga Organisasyon (Kasalo), was shot by unknown assailants in Punta Naga, Barangay Cagdianao and later died at a Surigao City hospital. He previously reported receiving death threats because of his anti-mining activities, Kasalo said.

Delamente was also the Katribu Party provincial coordinator since 2010.

In Makilala, 39th Infantry Battallion soldiers of the Philippine Army pursued an NPA unit in Barangay Biangan that resulted in an hour long gunfight and the death of a Red fighter, 33-year old Rojet Ranara.

Eight soldiers were also killed, NPA-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command Spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez said.

“The war dogs of the 39th IB and the entire AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) cannot wash their hands clean of this flagrant violation of their own ceasefire. Sitio Lokatong in Barangay Biangan is a remote area that their presence can only mean an offensive operation against the NPA,” Sanchez said.

“They fool no one by claiming that their combat operation was merely in response to reports by local authorities of the presence of lawless groups, for the entire day, they actively maneuvered to engage the evading unit of the NPA,” he added.

Sanchez said the Rodrigo Duterte government should know it is the insincerity of the AFP that is the biggest impediment to the quest for just and lasting peace.

Palabay said the killings and the military operations are attacks on the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Is the AFP laying the ground for further human rights violations akin to those committed under Oplan Bayanihan? Its Oplan Kapayapaan in its first three weeks is nothing but the same counter-insurgency program that unleashes war against the people and fomenting un-peace,” Palabay said.

Asked for comment, GRP Negotiating Panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said they still have to receive an official notice from the NDFP.

“We cannot turn a deaf ear to these reports, but such incidents should not negatively affect the peace process,” Bello said.

“In fact, such incidents should compel both parties to accelerate the peace talks to its logical conclusion for a just and lasting peace,” he added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured image by Breakaway Media)

LARAWAN: Migrante-Italy suportado ang usapang pangkapayapaan; progresibong Italyano, nakiisa

Piazza dell’Esquilino
Rome, Italy
January 22, 2017

LARAWAN: GRP and NDFP signing of agreement on supplemental guidelines for the Joint Monitoring Committee of the CARHRIHL

Rome, Italy

January 21, 2017