Bulatlatan
Written by: Edilberto Silvana
Published: Bulatlatan, June 26, 2009;
Source: Bulatlatan snapshot at the Internet Archive;
Markup: Simoun Magsalin.
The NDF and the GRP will resume peace talks again on August 2009. This was disclosed to media by both parties in recent press releases. To civil society this is a welcome development after four years of suspended peace talks and worsening war atrocities committed by both sides in the raging internal conflict. Reports have it that the current resumption of GRP-NDF talks is expected to tackle the economic-social development, which is the basic root of the conflict.
The NDF-GRP peace process had been left hanging in the air since 2004….. And this was for a number of reasons or conditions (around 13 of them) imposed by the NDF. The JASIG or Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee was consequently suspended by the GRP due to the temporary stoppage of the peace talks.
The recent lifting of the suspension of JASIG (or Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee) came in as a necessity to facilitate the resumption of the peace process. It is a clear peace initiative and confidence building measure taken by the GRP. JASIG ensures that rebel leaders involved in the peace process are allowed the freedom and safety of movement in order for them to participate in the talks or support the NDF Panel in numerous requirements in the peace negotiations. It is similar to the safe conduct pass provided to amnesty applicants or rebel returnees.
But almost everybody knows that the CPP-NDF-NPA are still following a Maoist militarist revolutionary strategy, principally relying on “military victory” for the establishment of nationalist and democratic reforms. This is quite reflected on the recent major documents of the CPP, in its 40thh anniversary on December 26, 2008 (“ Strengthen the Party and intensify the people’s struggle in celebrating the 40th founding anniversary”) and their anniversary statement for the NPA’s 40th Anniversary on March 29, 2009 (“Win greater victories in the people’s war”). The CPP have formulated a 5 Year Central Plan that will propel their revolution towards a “qualitative leap.” This plan will be particularized by the NDF and the NPA in their own yearly programs of action. Nowhere in those documents did the CPP mention that it constantly entertains the possibility of a “political settlement” through the peace negotiations with the GRP.
Ever since the CPP embarked on the “peace negotiations” under their glorious and correct Chairman Jose Maria Sison, the peace talks have been treated as an “arena for political struggle” against the ruling regime in the Philippines. It was also meant to garner whatever tactical or short-term advantages they could get at a given period. At that time the CPP wanted to use it to “expose and oppose the US-Cory Aquino regime.” Now they would like to use it to “fully isolate” the GMA regime, get into a tactical alliance with the numerous presidentiables and also secure the release from prison of their high-ranking comrades by simply declaring them as NDF peace consultants or advisors.
The NDF claims that they have “96 peace consultants” whom they want to be covered by the JASIG. The list includes imprisoned and fugitive high-ranking CPP-NPA cadres who never had particular roles in the peace negotiations. The JASIG therefore will just be used by the NDF to secure freedom and immunity for their leaders so they could go on with their political and military tasks under their 5 Year Central Plan without hindrance or threat of arrest.
If the CPP-NDF-NPA are really sincere in their pursuit of “just and lasting peace” through a political settlement with the GRP, they should also return the confidence building measures of the GRP with their own peace initiatives. They could at least show their consistent compliance with previous agreements with the GRP in the CARHRIHL. They should call for: the stop to rebel taxation; stop the NPA torture and killing of civilians; stop the burning of cell-sites, passenger buses, tractors, delivery trucks; and the prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators of human rights violators from among their ranks. If the CPP-NDF-NPA could not even engage in confidence-building, what do they have to show their sincerity?
Otherwise, what is there for the people to get excited about the peace talks? Nothing… absolutely nothing.