Political prisoners end hunger strike on Int’l Human Rights Day

From GMA News (Dec 10): Political prisoners end hunger strike on Int’l Human Rights Day

Political prisoners at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City ended their 8-day hunger strike on Saturday in observance of the International Human Rights Day.

A total of 76 political prisoners began their hunger strike on December 3, to press the Duterte administration to release all the the more than 400 political prisoners in the country.

“Ang pakikibaka para makamit ang hustisyang ipinagkait sa aming mga bilanggong pulitikal ay bahagi ng kabuuang laban para sa karapatang pantao,” the political prisoners were quoted as saying in a news release.

At least 122 political prisoners also joined the hunger strike by fasting.

Also, they criticized the recent appointment of Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Citing his allged record of human rights violations, the political prisoners said Año’s promotion “is a preview to a worsening human rights situation in the country.”

“Año’s appointment and the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani pose a hindrance to the Filipino people’s pursuit for justice.”

To achieve lasting peace, they said, the administration must address the root causes of armed conflict.

“As long as counter-insurgency programs remain operative, as long as landlessness, lack of decent jobs and wages persist, as long as imperialists remain free to plunder our land and resources, there will always be political prisoners; for it is in such desperate times that resistance becomes duty.

More than 400 political prisoners are still languishing in various detention facilities  across the country.

Earlier, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, now in peace talks with the government, insisted that the release all political prisoners is part of both parties' commitment to the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL).

However, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday maintained that he could no longer grant this demand after giving "too much, too soon" to the communist rebels in the ongoing peace talks.

"I have conceded to the communists too much too soon. As yet, I have ... to see a substantive progress in the talks. They are asking for 130 detainees to be released... Sorry, I cannot do that," Duterte said.

"I cannot do it because uubusin nila ang baraha ko. Ang alas ko nga eh. Iyang alas ko ang nasa kulungan... I am playing a poker game here. Maubos ang baraha ko. I-release ko lahat iyan. Ano pa ang pag-usapan natin?" he added.

Duterte said he wanted a signed joint ceasefire agreement between the government and the NDFP before granting the request to free members of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/591994/news/nation/political-prisoners-end-hunger-strike-on-int-l-human-rights-day-nbsp