CPP welcomes new peace overtures but reminds gov’t of past agreements

Peace efforts between the government and communist rebels took another important step forward Saturday after the Communist Party of the Philippines welcomed the newly-installed Aquino administration's peace overtures. But the CPP reminded the Aquino government to commit itself to all previous agreements reached by both sides in the last 20 years. "To resume and push forward the peace negotiations, the Aquino government needs to commit itself to all previous agreements, including The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which set the guiding principles, framework, agenda and procedures for the talks, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL)," the CPP said in a statement on its website. It noted that presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles had said the government is committed to working for a "negotiated settlement" of the armed conflict. Deles sent messages to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) seeking the resumption of peace negotiatations, the CPP noted. She also announced on Saturday that the government is now reconstituting its peace panel that will pursue talks with the NDF. (See: Deles: Peace panels may start taking shape next week) Also, the CPP urged the Aquino government to resolve the outstanding cases of abduction and forced disappearance of NDFP peace consultants. These include Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid and Rogelio Calubad and their staff members, the CPP said. It also called for the immediate release of Eduardo Sarmiento, Eduardo Serrano, Edgardo Sacamay, Glicerio Pernia, Angela Ipong, Jaime Soledad, Randy Malayao, Alfredo Mapano, Jovencio Balweg, and other NDFP consultants who were arrested during the previous Arroyo administration and remain in jail up to now. "These cases of abduction, enforced disappearance and illegal detention were carried out by the Arroyo regime in gross violation of the JASIG and CARHRIHL," the CPP said. On the other hand, the CPP accused the previous Arroyo administration of plotting with the US intelligence and Dutch police in filing trumped-up murder charges in a Dutch court against NDFP chief political consultant and CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison and having him arrested in 2007. Sison was subsequently released after the Dutch court determined that he was not guilty of the charges. The NDFP-GRP peace negotiations have been practically stalled since 2004 when the Arroyo government “reneged" on most of its commitments in the peace talks, the CPP said. Remind AFP to respect rights, Aquino told Meanwhile, a legal Left umbrella group urged Aquino to issue a strong reminder to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to respect human rights after he wooed the loyalty of the military on Friday. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also expressed fears that securing the loyalty of troops may come at the expense of human rights. “Without a strong message from the president focusing on respect for human rights and the prosecution of violators, the pattern of impunity within the AFP will remain. No talk of ‘professionalism, discipline and integrity’ will change this," said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr., in an article posted Saturday on Bayan's website. Reyes voiced concerns that with the AFP's ranks increasing, the new government will just continue the previous government's failed counter-insurgency program and worsen human rights violations. "It (is) widely acknowledged that the biggest stain on the record of the AFP is the gross human rights violations committed under the previous regime. The new president cannot simply ignore this fact. The new president cannot simply move to increase the number of troops and ignore the fundamental problem of human rights," he said. Bayan recalled that former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her 2006 State of the Nation Address, praised now-retired Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr. amid mounting complaints of human rights abuses against him. “The strong message on human rights must come from the president himself. The perfunctory statements on respect for human rights coming from the AFP generals are not worth much. Unless there are high officials who will be made accountable for their abuses, there won’t be any deterrent to future abuses. Heads must roll. Violators should be made accountable," Reyes said. On the other hand, Bayan said increasing the size of the AFP is a “dangerous proposition" coming from the new president. “Mr. Aquino… risks drawing valuable resources away from social services. He will definitely have to increase military spending. This is not a wise move and may be counter-productive and dangerous in the long run," Reyes said. So far, Bayan said no ranking military officer has been made accountable for the spate of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances that have happened under the Arroyo regime. AFP to draw up wish list A day after its new commander-in-chief told the AFP to tell him what it needs, the Defense Department will meet with AFP officials to draw up its wish list. New Defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin said he will meet with AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo David this coming week, and possibly make the rounds of officers and soldiers. “Wala pa, kauupo pa lang niya kahapon, di pa kami nagkukumperensya (There’s none yet, we have not held a conference yet, since David has just assumed his post yesterday)," Gazmin said on government-run dzRB radio. But the Defense secretary said he already has an idea of what the AFP will need, and may make the rounds of AFP units on the ground to “confirm" his thoughts. “It is as confirmatory if I go around and talk to officers and the soldiers," he said. As to how many additional personnel will be needed for the AFP, Gazmin said he will meet the military top brass and “will determine the number that will be proportionate to the population." Gazmin, who headed the Presidential Security Group during the presidency of Mr. Aquino’s late mother Corazon, also reiterated he will focus on putting the right men in the right jobs. He also said he will meet with defense officials in coming weeks to take a closer look at the military’s modernization. The meetings will also look into the welfare of the soldiers and retirees and their families, he added. On Friday, Aquino told the AFP to tell him its needs and he will act on them. “Tell us what you need and we will give it to you, as long as they are based on principles of professionalism and utilitarianism; as long as they will benefit the whole institution and not only the interests of a few," Aquino said.—JV, GMANews.TV