Reds say joint ceasefire hopes slim

From Malaya Business Insight (Jan 20): Reds say joint ceasefire hopes slim

THE National Democratic Front of the Philippines said the chance of having a joint ceasefire with the Duterte administration is already slim due to various issues, including the continued detention of more than 400 political prisoners and the “reckless” war on drugs.

NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili issued the statement Wednesday, on the eve of the third round of the formal peace negotiations in Rome. The joint ceasefire is among the issues due to be discussed in the talks.

Agcaoili said the NDFP has already raised its protest to the government about the continuing violations of the previously-signed Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

“These violations place into serious question the sincerity of the GRP in its peace negotiations with the NDFP. For if previously signed agreements are not honored, what guarantees does the NDFP have that future agreements would not be similarly violated by the GRP?” he asked.

Agcaoili said the issues he raised are the “grave violations of the CARHRIHL and JASIG and the broken promises on the release of political prisoners have made the extension of the NDFP’s unilateral ceasefire untenable.”

“The prospect for forging a bilateral ceasefire agreement has grown dim,” he said.

He noted the arrest and conviction of JASIG-protected NDFP consultants Eduardo Sarmiento, Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza over “trumped-up charges.”

He said government then suggested that the three withdraw their appeals for the granting of presidential pardon.

“As a result, their conviction became final. But until now, they have not been pardoned and continue to languish in prison. This is not only a violation of CARHRIHL and JASIG but also a serious betrayal of trust,” he said.

Agcaoili said several NDFP consultants have been subjected to surveillance and harassment by “motorcycle riding” men. He said JASIG provides NDFP consultants protection from such actions and are even allowed to carry firearms for their security.

“Despite a protest filed with the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) panel, the surveillance and harassment continued, obliging the consultants to take counter measures,” he said.

Agcaoili said the NDFP has also demanded justice for NDFP and JASIG-protected personalities -- enforced disappearance victims Leo Velasco; Prudencio Calubid, his wife and relatives; Rogelio Calubad and his son; Nestor Entice and his wife; Leopoldo Ancheta; and Philip Limjoco; and murder victim Sotero Llamas.

He said soldiers have continued their operations in areas they suspect as under the control, or are influenced or sympathetic to the communist movement on the pretext of peace and development projects.

“They occupy schools, health and day care centers, barangay halls, public plazas, and even bus stops and private residences in more than 43 provinces and 146 municipalities all over the country. They conduct illegal searches and interrogations to identify relatives of NPA members as well as supporters and sympathizers of the revolutionary movement to terrorize the people. They impose food blockades and restrictions on the movement of residents, disrupting their economic activities,” he said.

Government and the NDFP separately declared unilateral truce days before the start of the first round of talks in August last year. The two sides are working on a more permanent one.

Agcaoili also cited the government’s war on illegal drugs which he said has drawn concerns from “reputable human rights and lawyers’ organizations.”

The NDFP chief negotiator said the war on drugs has resulted in the killing of innocent people “due to brutal, reckless and indiscriminate methods employed by the police in its anti-drug operations.”

The other issues Agcaoili raised are the non-indemnification of human rights violations during the martial law years, the hero’s burial accorded to strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/reds-say-joint-ceasefire-hopes-slim