A network of peace advocates, which is hosting a three-day
peace activity here denied that their events are organized by the National
Democratic Front as alleged by a statement from the Army last week.
On Thursday, June 23 the Army’s 10th Infantry
Division said they received reports that the NDF’s allied groups and the New
People’s Army (NPA) is organizing a rally set to commemorate the death of New
People’s Army leader, Leoncio Pitao, alias Parago.
“The 10th Infantry Division has been receiving several reports
from concerned civilians that for the past weeks, the NPAs and its
allied groups from the NDFP-SMR had been coercing the people to join in
a so-called peace rally scheduled on June 27-28, 2016 in Davao City,” said
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, chief of the Division of Public Affairs office of the 10th
ID.
Batchar said their reports said the organizers “are
insinuating the people to join them in said peace rally as part of the
thanksgiving of Honorable Rodrigo R. Duterte prior to his oath taking as
President on June 30, 2016.”
“The NPA and its allied groups have resorted to intimidation
and deceptive tactics in hiding the real purpose of the said rally which
is the commemoration of the death of Leoncio Pitao alias Parago. Parago
was a known notorious NPA criminal who has several standing warrant
of arrests for various crimes ranging from murder, multiple
frustrated murder and robbery,” the Army said.
“On several occasions, the NPA and its allied groups
made-up several deceptive approaches in exploiting the people to join a
rally. Among their approaches range from offers of monetary payments in
cash or in goods, field trips or meeting key government officials to address
their needs,” it added.
Batchar said while the Army respects the people’s right to
peaceful assembly, they also would like to “protect the people from
any exploitation.”
“As part of our mandate, 10th ID will remain as
the people’s servant and will remain committed in preserving the
democratic way of life,” he said.
The dates of the activities received by the Army in their
report coincide with the Exodus for Justice and Peace’s hosting of a three-day
peace activities starting today, June 27.
However, Rev. Jurie Jaime, convener of EJP clarified that
“these peace events are hosted by church leaders of the Exodus for Justice and
Peace in support of the resumption of peace talks between the incoming Duterte
government and the revolutionary movement represented by the National
Democratic Front.”
Jaime said the peace activities dubbed as “Pukaw Kalinaw:
Educate communities and various sectors to address the roots of the armed
conflict” include a concert and a peace rally on June 29.
Jaime said their activities aim to “launch a campaign to
push for public participation in deepening of the people’s agenda for change,
to expand and link with various sectors in supporting the call for peace talks,
and to mobilize and launch advocacy campaigns and activities to boost and
sustain confidence in peace talks.”
He said their event seeks to serve as bridge between the
people and those involved in the peace talks.
The group said that the military should “refrain from acting
as saboteurs against people who want peace.”
“We pray that they may understand our efforts that will
serve the benefit of the Filipinos, which is also the intent of the incoming
Duterte administration,” he said.
For how many years, EJP has been consistent on facilitating
the safe release of soldiers, police officer, and other individuals who were
considered prisoners-of-war by the NPAs.
NDF to attend the event
Meanwhile, the NDFP said that they were also invited to talk
about the updates on the peace talks -on the second day of the event on
Tuesday, June 28.
In an interview with NDFP consultant Randall Echanis at the
sidelines of the Kapehan sa SM media forum, he said that they did not know
about the details of the preparations of the peace activities here.
Echanis said that the peace event is not hosted by the NDFP
but by the EJP.
“We are only included on the peace forum with the GPH,” he
added. He said that it is the EJP who has knowledge on the other events
mentioned.
Jaime said that the GPH-NDF peace negotiations is now entering
four decades yet negotiations have gone on-and-off through various
administrations.
The EJP has previously served as a third party facilitator
for the safe release of the NPAs prisoners of war.
http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/group-tells-army-dont-be-saboteurs-of-peace-activity/
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