Task Force Detainees urges release of political prisoners from all rebel groups

From InterAksyon (Jun 24): Task Force Detainees urges release of political prisoners from all rebel groups

 

Juanito Itaas, then and now. (TFDP photos)

As it welcomed impending formal peace talks between the incoming Duterte administration and communist rebels, a human rights group urged both parties “to consider the release of all political prisoners coming from all rebel groups as a major step towards peace and reconciliation.”

Among those Task Force Detainees of the Philippines wants released is Juanito Itaas, the longest-serving political prisoner in the country, who has been behind bars for more than two decades after he was convicted for the killing of American military adviser James Rowe in April 1989.

The Duterte government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which represents rebels led by the Communist Party of the Philippines, are slated to resume formal negotiations in the third week of July.

Indications are President-elect Rodrigo Duterte might release more than 500 political prisoners, including a number of NDFP consultants, ahead of an amnesty law he has said he wants to see enacted.

“TFDP welcomes the release of political prisoners through amnesty,” the rights group said in a statement. “We welcome the immediate release of those who are sickly and those who are covered by the JASIG,” or Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, the agreement that protects rebel and government negotiators and their staff from arrest and prosecution for the duration of the talks.

However, TFDP said while it was “fully aware that a great number of the political prisoners come from the NDF bloc … we are aware too that a significant number come from our Moro brothers and sisters” as well as other long-serving prisoners aside from Itaas such as Gerry Butial, and Basilides Badion “who have languished in jail since the time of Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos.”

“There are also those coming from other rebel groups such as the RPM-RPA-ABB, the RHB, the MLPP-ABB,” which are breakaway factions from the New People’s Army.

“All of them deserve freedom. All of them long to embrace their loved ones,” TFDP said.

It also said “any meaningful amnesty proclamation must cover all political prisoners coming from all rebel groups” and “any release of political prisoners should not discriminate against their political affiliation and must not exclude any by virtue of a limited period of coverage.”

http://interaksyon.com/article/129505/task-force-detainees-urges-release-of-political-prisoners-from-all-rebel-groups