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CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS URGE THE GRP AND NDF TO RESUME PEACE TALKS SOON

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Sulong CARHRIHL, calls on the P-Noy Government and the leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDFP to resume Peace Talks as soon as possible. At Sulong CARHRIHL’s recent Partners’ Consultative Assembly attended by sectoral, church and academe-based leaders from different communities and areas affected by the armed conflict, the leaders asserted that the two parties should resume talks to take up the other three agenda agreed upon under the Hague Declaration. These agenda are Economic and Social Reforms, Political and Constitutional Reforms and lastly, Disposition of Forces and End of Hostilities.

The suspension of formal peace talks since 2005 has severely affected the implementation of the first agreement, the CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law signed by both parties on March 16, 1998) and its mechanism -the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) . Harassment, torture, internal displacement, illegal arrest, illegal detention and extra-judicial killing are among the continuing CARHRIHL violations. However, response to and redress of the complaints lodged at the JMC have been limited because of the suspension of peace negotiations.

Moreover, communities continue to suffer CARHRIHL violations with the series of military offensives being conducted and sometimes escalated by both parties.

Sulong CARHRIHL’s Chairperson, Former Senator Wigberto Tanada, stressed the opportunity for advancing peace efforts in the new P-Noy administration as he reiterated the country’s situation ”… habang may armadong labanan, walang kaunlaran. Kung walang kaunlaran, walang kapayapaan.”

As civil society groups await the announcement of the new peace panel members, Sulong CARHRIHL renews its urgent appeal to both parties:

    1. Ensure the full implementation of CARHRIHL and immediately address human rights and international humanitarian law violations based on the agreement.
    2. Suspend military offensives by both parties within the communities.
    3. Respect and support local peace initiatives.
    4. Support civil society participation and engagement in peace processes.
    5. Create mechanisms to ensure protection of complainants in the filing of CARHRIHL violations.
    6. Ensure that illegal and aggressive development projects such as mining and logging do not use military forces and paramilitaries.