The peace talks must proceed on the basis of past agreements
Contrary to the overthrown Estrada regime�s relentless all-out war policy, the Macapagal-Arroyo regime now stresses the use of peace negotiations in confronting the revolutionary movement. To support this, Macapagal-Arroyo has declared the "official termination" of the all-out war policy against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and announced the release of 73 out of 254 political prisoners.
On February 9, former Justice Silvestre Bello III and four others were appointed to the panel that would negotiate with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
On the part of the NDFP, Comrade Luis Jalandoni was reappointed as head of the panel that would negotiate with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP). As it has shown in the past, the NDFP stands ready to meet with the GRP to discuss issues that lie at the root of the armed conflict. The peace talks comprise an additional arena of struggle that is secondary to the armed struggle and the revolutionary mass movement. The revolutionary movement engages in peace talks devoid of any illusion that the basic problems of the people would be resolved or that the GRP is sincere in the pursuit of peace.
In the past, it was the GRP that served as the biggest obstacle to the advance of the peace talks. With its rabid denial to recognize the NDFP as an equal in the peace talks, it has sabotaged agreements that have been forged, thus resulting in the talks� repeated failures.
ADHERE TO PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS!
The Macapagal-Arroyo regime must go beyond releasing political prisoners or announcing the end of the allout war policy to once more pursue the peace talks. It is its obligation to recognize previous agreements entered into by the GRP and the NDFP.
The Hague Joint Declaration signed by both panels on September 1, 1992 clearly states the agenda of the talks in their proper order. This agreement provides the objectives, framework and substantive agenda of the peace talks as well as mutually agreed principles that shall guide it. | The peace talks can only advance if the Macapagal-Arroyo regime recognizes past agreements, which have been junked by previous regimes to cover up their lack of a serious agenda in the talks. |
The principals of both sides have also approved the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or Humanitarian Law or CARHRIHL. Other agenda, in their proper order, deal on socio-economic reforms; constitutional and electoral reforms; and the disposition of forces.
The NDFP has faithfully abided by the agreed framework as stipulated in these two agreements. It has not imposed any condition on the GRP for pursuing the talks and in fact, has continued to perform goodwill measures to prove its seriousness to negotiate, such as releasing prisoners of war. This is in contrast to the sordid record of the Ramos and Estrada regimes in violating the agreements. Aside from insisting on the use of the GRP constitution as framework for the talks, contrary to the provisions of The Hague Joint Declaration, the GRP has even tried to compel the NDFP to surrender and abandon armed struggle.
The NDFP and GRP also signed on June 14, 1994 the Breukelen Joint Declaration stating that the formal negotiations would be held in a neutral country. The NDFP has stood by this agreement and has not been coopted by past regimes on schemes to hold the talks in Manila; to hold localized peace talks; and to declare a ceasefire.
Representatives of the NDFP and GRP involved in the negotiations in the negotiations have also been accorded protection through the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) signed on February 24, 1995; while the Joint Agreement on the Formation, Sequence and Operationalization of the Reciprocal Working Committees (June 26, 1995) guaranteed orderly discussions on the first substantive agenda� the issue of human rights and international humanitarian law.
ADVANCE THE CARHRIHL!
The CARHRIHL, which was signed by both negotiating panels on March 16, 1998 has become an added weapon in the hands of the Filipino people. Comrade Mariano Orosa signed it as principal of the NDFP on April 10, 1998 while Estrada signed it on August 7, 1998. All revolutionary forces have been been implementing it and shall continue to implement it in its entirety and without discrimination. It is a historic document because it has addressed the aspirations of the Filipino people regarding respect for their rights and it is a testament to the reactionary regime�s acceptance of the issue of widespread human rights violations. This document also confirms the equal standing of the NDFP and GRP.
CARHRIHL covered the entire range of human rights. It guaranteed the right of all democratic classes and sectors in society against exploitation and oppression. It likewise contained added provisions on international humanitarian laws of war and contains higher standards than Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The NDFP assigned Comrade Fidel Agcaoili as head of the joint monitoring committee which is a key component of and a clear necessity in, the implementation of CARHRIHL. The Estrada regime failed to form its own parallel committee. Instead of advancing the agreement it signed, it has junked it and committed one violation after another, maneuvered against and sabotaged it, leading to the eventual collapse of the peace talks.
The peace talks can only advance if the new Macapagal-Arroyo regime recognizes these agreements, especially with regard to implementing the CARHRIHL. In the past, these agreements have been junked by previous regimes to cover up their lack of a serious agenda in the talks.
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