THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC Front of the Philippines (NDFP) signed on May 5 a joint petition which called on governments to heed the United Nation’s (UN) call for a temporary global ceasefire and release of politicalprisoners. UN said that these are important measures in the fight against Covid-19.

The petition was signed by the NDFP, member organizations of the Resistance and Liberation Movements Network, Inter Alia, The Basque Movement, The Peace Dialogue Delegation-National Liberation Army-Colombia, The Kurdistan National Congress, armed ethnic organizations in Myanmar, the Euro-Burma Office, and Dr. Sai Oo of the Union Peace and Dialogue Joint Committee of Myanmar.

However, the group said many governments refuse to heed the UN’s call for a global ceasefire, and instead exploited the situation to intensify their repressive policies. They also noted that those who were freed in several countries are criminals who were convicted of grave criminal charges.