GRP, NDF seal guidelines for joint monitoring committee, score victory

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 22): GRP, NDF seal guidelines for joint monitoring committee, score victory

The Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) signed on Saturday, January 21, the supplemental guidelines for the full operation of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), moving the peace negotiations another step towards final peace settlement.

GRP peace panel chair and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the signing is concrete manifestation of the Duterte administration’s adherence for respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.

He added that the signing is a victory for the people and the Duterte government and a major dividend in the peace process.

"I view the signing today of the supplemental guidelines, therefore, not only as affirmation of the Duterte administration's commitment to human rights protection and to IHL adherence, but likewise a concrete dividend of this round of talks," he explained.

The guidelines were crafted in 2004 but the draft of its supplement was not signed after the peace negotiations bogged down in 2011.

"The full operation of the Joint Monitoring Committee, with its supplemental guidelines in place, should not be difficult under our legal regime that includes new and bold laws and statutes upholding human rights and international humanitarian laws such as the law against enforced disappearance, Anti-Torture Act, IHL Act, Human Security Act, Writ of Amparo and the Writ of Kalikasan, among others," Bello said.

The supplemental guidelines, signed by GRP panel Chair Silvestre Bello III and NDF panel chair Fidel Agcaoili at Holiday Inn in Rome, Italy in the presence of Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy Elisabeth Slattum, is a set of mechanisms on how to address complaints of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by government forces and the armed wing of the NDF – the New People’s Army (NPA).

Slattum immediately praised both parties for quickly coming into an agreement to activate the JMC.

The guidelines are pursuant to the Operational Guidelines for the JMC issued on 14 February 2004 in Oslo, Norway by the GRP and NDF peace negotiators.

This initial victory, Bello said, also bodes well for the possible signing of the bilateral ceasefire, a most-awaited agreement to benefit the Filipino people, especially those living in conflict-affected areas.

“This should be taken as an incentive for us to work harder in the remaining days of this round of talks, especially on our efforts to put in place a joint ceasefire agreement—a peace dividend that our people have been waiting for,” he said.

The CARHRIHL primarily promotes and protects human rights and adherence to international humanitarian law.

It likewise provides venue for victims of violations and abuses of human rights or their surviving families due to armed conflict to file their complaints and evidence.

The agreement provides that "persons liable for violations and abuses of human rights shall be subject to investigation and, if evidence warrants, to prosecution and trial. The victims or their survivors shall be indemnified. All necessary measures shall be undertaken to remove the conditions for violations and abuses of human rights and to render justice to and indemnify the victims."

Bello said the adoption of the guidelines is a realization of CARHRIHL, which is one of the four substantive agenda of the negotiations that will comprise the final peace agreement. The other three remaining substantive agenda are socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, and end of hostilities and disposition of forces. (OPAPP)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141485048036/grp-ndf-seal-guidelines-for-joint-monitoring-committee-score-victory