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

Rome, Italy

January 21, 2017

 

 

‘First achievement of the 3rd round’: Parties sign supplemental guidelines of Joint Monitoring Committee

ROME, Italy—The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) signed the supplemental guidelines to the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) on the third day of their third round of talks. Read more

GRP forces commit human rights violations with ceasefire in effect–Karapatan

ROME, Italy—Human rights violations victimized 28,890 civilians throughout the country while the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)’s unilateral ceasefire declaration is in effect, Karapatan in a 50-page report said.

The group, an independent observer to the ongoing peace talks, submitted its collated reports of 17 types of human rights violations committed by GRP forces and agents from August 21 to December 31, 2016.

The GRP received the report at a plenary discussion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Friday morning.

The cases  included the killing of 24 peasants and indigenous peoples; the enforced disappearance of two lumad activists; at least 14,659 incidents of threats, harassment and intimidation; and 4,170 incidents of indiscriminate firing and bombings by troops who have occupied communities in the countryside despite the ongoing ceasefire.

“We urge the GRP peace panel to look into the violations and heed the calls of affected communities, the victims and their families to stop these violations, to pull out the AFP and paramilitary forces in civilian communities and to respect and implement the CARHRIHL,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

“Just and lasting peace can only be achieved if there are sincere efforts to abide by previously-signed agreements and human rights obligations and people’s rights and welfare are upheld and protected at all times,” Palabay said.

GRP Response

GRP will look into the complaints, its negotiating panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III told reporters.

“We accepted the report by Karapatan as a signatory of the CARHRIHL and we will study it closely,” Bello said.

Bello said the GRP in turn has submitted a list of human rights violations committed by NDFP forces, but declined to give details.

“I also have yet to look at the report we gave the NDFP,” Bello said.

NDFP Panel senior adviser Luis Jalandoni said they “would have to see if GRP’s report were human rights violations at all.” (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Focus on the substantive issues, activists tell Duterte

by Abril Layad B. Ayroso

MANILA, Philippines–President Rodrigo Duterte should realize that peace talks between his government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are more than just about ceasefires, activists at a rally said.  last January 18, eve.

On the eve of the opening of the third round of peace talks in Rome, Italy, activists marched to Mendiola to demand the release of political prisoners whom Duterte described as his “trump cards.”

“Instead of confronting more substantive issues in the peace process such as social and economic reforms, the government dwelled on the issue of political prisoners and kept them hostage to secure a bilateral ceasefire agreement,” College Editors Guild of the Philippines national secretary-general Ronilo Mesa said.

“Duterte’s negotiating panel should be reminded that prolonging the release of the political detainees is a wilful violation of previously-signed agreements,” Mesa added, citing the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes added that several high-ranking military officials and advisors had reportedly travelled to Rome for the peace talks to press for a bilateral ceasefire as soon as possible.

“There is a mindset among the government that the peace talks are only good for achieving a ceasefire, even though the roots of the armed conflict have not yet been addressed,” Reyes said.

“Duterte should not just focus on the cessation of hostilities. He must be open to the legitimate concerns of the people,” League of Filipino Students national spokesperson JP Rosos added.

Socio-economic reforms

Former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño said that the government must focus on socio-economic reforms, instead of just dwelling on a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“Land reform, employment, economy, environment, culture, even free internet – these are all part of the socio-economic reforms to be discussed during the second round,” Casino said.

Casino added that addressing these issues would eventually lead to a cessation of hostilities as these are some of the causes of armed conflict.

“These reforms to be discussed in the peace talks are closer to the heart and stomach of the Filipino people. How could we possibly ignore these reforms to rush the ceasefire?” Casino said.

Violence and harassment

The rallyists also condemned the continuing militarization in rural areas, despite the interim unilateral ceasefires held by both the government and the NDFP.

“During the self-imposed ceasefire, troops under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remain in communities and are reported to be continuously intimidating, harassing and threatening residents,” Karapatan deputy secretary-general Roneo Clamor said.

The progressives also spoke against the Duterte administration’s new counterinsurgency program, Oplan Kapayapaan, which they say allows state forces to continue their military operations against activists.

“The Duterte government must end Oplan Kapayapaan to recognize the legitimate struggle of the Filipino people and to uphold its unilateral ceasefire declaration,” Mesa said.

Optimism

Despite this, the progressives continue to hope something positive comes out of the talks.

“We remain optimistic. Yet we will not stop demanding to the Duterte to release all political prisoners, not only to urge him to fulfill his promise, but to remind him that it is right and just, and is a significant move towards achieving a just and lasting peace,” Hustisya deputy secretary-general Gloria Almonte said in a statement.

“This third round of the peace talks is important, not only because it takes on socio-economic reforms, but also because it is when we find out whether the Duterte government is serious about keeping its promises and if our cooperation with them is to continue,” Reyes added.

“The government’s continued violations of human rights can and will affect even the unilateral ceasefires – but that is no reason to stop the peace talks, as they are about more than just the end of hostilities. We must not be swayed by Duterte’s threats,” Reyes said. #

 

Third round opens amidst complaints of CARHRIHL and JASIG violations

ROME, Italy—Despite major problems before its convening, the third round of formal peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) opened as scheduled at ten thirty this morning local time (5:30 pm Philippine time).

Both parties expressed optimism that the six-day negotiations would achieve important agreements on socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and human rights. Read more

CASER to be tackled most at third round of talks

ROME, Italy–The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have approved a common agenda of the third round of formal negotiations.

Hours before the formal opening of the talks to be held for the first time in this ancient city, both panels met and agreed to spend five days of negotiations starting today until January 25 with a break on Sunday, January 22. Read more

Unilateral ceasefire untenable; bilateral ceasefire prospects dim–NDFP

ROME, Italy–The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) submitted a long list of complaints against the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) for violations of previously-signed agreements which, it said, make the extension of its unilateral ceasefire untenable.

Even as delegates from both parties are starting to fill Holiday Inn-Parco de Medici (venue of the January 19-25 talks in this city) the Left’s negotiating panel formally raised with its counterpart seven GRP violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG)

“The prospect for forging a bilateral ceasefire agreement has grown dim,” NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili in a statement said.

The NDFP Negotiating Panel cited the following cases:

  • Betrayal of the Left’s trust through GRP’s request to the NDFP to withdraw the judicial appeals of three JASIG-protected NDFP consultants that eventually made their conviction final. But GRP President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to pardon Eduardo Sarmiento, Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza to enable them to participate in the ongoing GRP-NDFP peace negotiations;
  • The surveillance and harassment by motorcycle-riding men of recently released JASIG-protected consultants;
  • GRP’s failure to act on NDFP’s demand for justice for the enforced disappearance of JASIG-protected persons Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid, his wife and relatives; Rogelio Calubad and his son; Nestor Entice and his wife; Leopoldo Ancheta; and Philip Limjoco; as well as the murder of Sotero Llamas that were all committed during the time of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo;
  • The ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines operations against communities suspected to be under the control of NDFP forces on the pretext of conducting so-called peace and development projects. The NDFP has listed such violations in 43 provinces and 146 municipalities all over the country;
  • The killing of innocent people due to brutal, reckless and indiscriminate methods employed by the police in its anti-drug operations;
  •  Failure of President Duterte to amnesty close to 400 political prisoners as he repeatedly promised since May; and
  • GRP’s failure to render justice and indemnify victims of human rights violations under the Marcos martial law regime, in addition to its attempt at the political rehabilitation of the Marcoses through the late dictator’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“These violations place into serious question the sincerity of the GRP in its peace negotiations,” Agcaoili explained.

“For if previously signed agreements are not honored, what guarantees does the NDFP have that future agreements would not be similarly violated by the GRP?” he asked.

The GRP has not made secret its desire to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement as one of the major issues to be discussed in the third round of talks.

“The third round of talks hopes to tackle the still unfinished discussions on the proposed bilateral ceasefire vis-à-vis the issues on the releases of prisoners,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza in an earlier statement said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

 

 

 

Political detainees support third round of talks despite continued imprisonment

ROME, Italy—Political prisoners are finding their promised release too slow in coming even as they expressed support for the third round of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Two days before the talks in this ancient city, 33 political prisoners at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig said they are dismayed that GRP President Rodrigo Duterte is backtracking on his promise to release all political prisoners.

“Two round of formal negotiations were concluded in 2016, one political prisoner has already died in jail, we and our respective families have conducted a hunger strike last December, and Christmas and New Year have already passed, but President Duterte’s promises are nothing but press releases,” the detainees said.

The detainees also expressed resentment at how Duterte is treating them like trading cards in his government’s bid to force the NDFP to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“It seems he wants to force the NDFP and the people into a simplistic ceasefire without first complying with previously-signed agreements such as the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and giving justice to political prisoners,” the detainees said.

Duterte told NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili in a private meeting in Davao City immediately after his election last May he will release all political prisoners through a general amnesty, which he later repeated in several public speeches.

He has since announced he will only sign a general amnesty order for more than 400 political detainees if a signed NDFP-GRP bilateral ceasefire agreement is delivered to him.

“I cannot give you that.  I’m sorry but I have already conceded so much on the side of the government,” Duterte said last December 5.

The GRP Negotiating Panel has also repeatedly committed to work for the immediate release of prisoners but there have been no additional releases from the 19 released in time for the resumption of negotiations last August.

The NDFP for its part said the immediate release of political prisoners is a matter of justice and compliance with signed agreements.

Successful third round

The Bagong Diwa detainees are however hoping for a successful round of formal negotiations in this Italian capital starting tomorrow until the 25th.

“We support the third round of formal talks, especially the negotiations on socio-economic reforms and other substantial issues,” their statement said.

“We expect that genuine agrarian reform and national industrialization are to be discussed to address the root causes of the armed conflict,” they added.

The detainees are also asking on the GRP to stop the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ counter-insurgency operations as well as summary executions raging throughout the country.

“We call on the Filipino people to continue to stand for the advance of our democratic rights and interests for a just and lasting peace,” the detainees said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured photo by Karapatan)

 

Migrants ready for NDFP-GRP talks in Rome; negotiations to focus on socio-econ reforms

MIGRANT FILIPINOS in Italy are ready for the third round of formal negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) this week.

As the venue of the peace talks shifts to the ancient city of Rome on January 19 to 25, migrant organizations are taking the opportunity to express support to the negotiations by organizing a rally and forum midway through the round on January 22.

Various Migrante International chapters and other Filipino organizations throughout Italy would be attending a rally supporting the peace talks, including Migrante-Milan, Migrante-Bologna, Kapitbisig Migrante-Milan, Migrante –Mantova, Migrante- Caserta, Migrante-Firenze, Gabriela-Rome, Italo-Filipino Friendship Association, and the International Committee on Human Rights in the Philippines.

Italians and other nationalities are also expected to attend the rally to be held at Rome’s Plaza Esquilino from nine to 11 in the morning, the organizers said.

“The event would be to support the peace talks here in Rome and to show to both the GRP and the NDFP panels our interest in the progress of their negotiations,” Umangat Migrante coordinator and Gabriela Rome founder Weng Flores said.

Flores said many fellow migrants expressed delight when they found out that the third round of talks would be held in Rome

Both the GRP and the NDFP asked the Royal Norwegian Government to facilitate the third round of talks in Italy as Norway was deemed to be too cold for many negotiators during winter.

Peace forum

After the morning rally, migrants will hold a peace forum organized by the Sentro Pilipino Socio-Cultural Committee and Umangat-Migrante in the afternoon.

Both the NDFP and the GRP are invited to send speakers to the forum.

“It would be an opportunity for both parties to explain why the peace talks are important to migrants like us.  We hope they could explain to us what the NDFP’s agenda are and the GRP’s response to them,” Flores said.

“More importantly, we wish to be informed of our role in the process and the solutions they have regarding labor migration,” she added.

Another peace forum shall be held in Milan in northern Italy on January 28, three days after the scheduled conclusion of the formal negotiations on the 25th.

The forums follow a similar event held in Rome last November attended by NDFP Negotiating Panel member Coni Ledesma and senior adviser Luis Jalandoni.

Flores said more of their compatriots and friends in Italy have become interested in the peace process.

Focus on socio-economic reforms

Meanwhile, both the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels said they are ready for the start of the formal talks on Thursday which will focus on socio economic reforms.

“We are all set and ready to engage the NDF in the discussion of all substantive agenda, including supplemental agreements needed to proceed and arrive at a peaceful negotiated political settlement to end the armed conflict in the country,” GRP Negotiating Panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said.

The GRP is set to fly to Rome Monday evening.

The NDFP for its part said they agreed with the GRP proposal that the third round of talks would focus on the socio-economic substantive agenda.

“We agreed to GRP’s suggestion to the Royal Norwegian Government that we focus on socio-economic reforms (SER) on this round because this is the meat of the peace talks,” NDFP Negotiating Panel chairperson Fidel Agcaoili said.

Agcaoili said both parties agreed to spend three days negotiating on SER and one day on political and constitutional reforms, the Joint Monitoring Committee and other issues. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

 

 

NDFP-GRP human rights monitoring committee meets today

THE National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) pushed their human rights mandate forward as the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) held its third meeting in as many months today.

GRP Monitoring Committee chairperson and negotiating panel member Hernani Braganza earlier announced their meeting at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Taguig City on his Facebook wall.

The JMC was convened for the first time in 12 years last September 20 and again during the second round of formal NDFP-GRP talks in Oslo, Norway last October when they agreed to finally undertake joint activities.

In Oslo, the GRP and the NDFP agreed to develop a JMC monitoring system and jointly promote human rights through forums, trainings and the introduction of human rights and international humanitarian law in school curriculums.

Both parties also discussed and clarified the documentation and investigation of complaints and agreed on the need to finalize the coverage of joint education and capacity building activities by the joint committee’s Joint Secretariat (JS).

Both the GRP and the NDFP have yet to respond to Kodao’s request for statements on their third meeting today.

Breakthrough

Karapatan secretary general and JMC independent observer Cristina Palabay said her group welcomes current efforts to continue JMC’s revitalization.

“Karapatan hopes that the JMC can pursue the complaints on violations of the CARHRIHL by State security forces, especially those in relation to the implementation of the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan,” Palabay said.

Formed as a CARHRIHL mechanism in 2004 after at least five years of delay, the JMC has received 6,397 complaints of human rights violations, 4,471 against the GRP and 1,926 against the NDFP as of May 23, 2016.

The NDFP however said that 96 per cent of the complaints against them are “nuisance complaints” filed wholesale last November 8, 2006 by the Judge Advocate General’s Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Most complaints against the GRP and its forces on the other hand were filed by human rights organizations or directly submitted by the victims or their families.

Previously, the GRP Monitoring Committee under the Gloria Arroyo and Benigno Aquino administrations refused to meet with its NDFP counterpart to discuss thousands of complaints of human rights violations against both parties and undertake joint activities as per their agreement in 2004.

The NDFP also revealed that former Aquino peace adviser Teresita Quintos Deles asked the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG), third party facilitator to the talks, to stop funding JMC’s JS that holds office at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral compound in Cubao, Quezon City.

The RNG reportedly refused Deles’ request as JS’ dissolution is only possible after agreement by both the GRP and the NDFP.

The JMC is again expected to convene during the third round of formal NDFP-GRP negotiations in Rome, Italy on January 19-24. (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured image from Nani Agsalud Braganza’s Facebook wall.)