for peace talks progress…

For peace talks to progress, JASIG and other agreements must be complied with

19 February 2011

We, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultants and staff and other political prisoners at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, denounce utterances by the top leaders and mouthpieces of the military organization of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) that only show their despise and effort to sabotage the peace process.
Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz arrogantly stated that they have no intention at all respecting the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) against arrests and other hostile acts and harm against peace panel members, consultants and staff of either side. Gen. Ortiz outrightly blared that they will continue to arrest NDFP consultants and personnel even if they have JASIG- protected. To prove this, he ordered the arrest of NDFP consultant Alan Jazmines on the very eve of the resumption of peace talks between the NDFP and the GPH and totally disregard Jazmines protest against the arrest as he is a JASIG holder and can prove so.
The GPH military is intentionally mocking and sabotaging the peace process with the arrest and insistence that they will continue to do more of the same.
Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Antonio Parlade followed-up Gen. Ortiz statement of contempt of the peace process by deriding the NDFP demand for the release of all political prisoners in compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and as goodwill measure for the continuation and progress of the peace talks. Col. Parlade made a sweeping statement that the political prisoners are actually guerilla fighters and therefore should be charged and continue to be imprisoned for what he falsely termed as “atrocities” against government forces.
The peace process will not reach any meaningful progress for as long as such fascist and anti-peace positions of the GPH military continue to hold sway.
For the peace talks to have any prospect of meaningfully continuing and for real gains to be achieved in the whole process, the GPH and its armed forces and other agencies must be made to comply with the demand for the immediate release of all detained NDFP peace consultants and staff and some 400 other political prisoners and the full and hampered implementation henceforth of the JASIG, CARHRIHL and other standing peace agreements.

(Sgd.) Prospero F. Agudo (Sgd.) Jovencio Balweg
(Sgd.) Alan V. Jazmines (Sgd.) Eduardo O. Sarmiento
(Sgd.) Eduardo R. Serrano

alan jazmines statements

Dear friends,

Alan Jazmines, NDFP Peace Consultant, who was illegally arrested last February 14, 2011, requested SELDA to release his statement. Please see his full statement below, the attached file is the scanned copy of his handwritten statement. Please circulate. Thank you very much

SELDA National Office

Statement on My Arrest in Violation of the JASIG and Mockery of the Entire Peace Talks

February 16, 2011

ALAN JAZMINES

NDFP Peace Consultant

PNP Custodial Center

Camp Crame, Quezon City

My arrest on the very eve of the NDFP-GPH peace talks by combined forces of the AFP and PNP is an outright and arrogant mockery and sabotage of the peace process.

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines’ fascist forces have been intentionally violating the JASIG with impunity and stubbornly refusing to release 14 other NDFP peace consultants and their staff who remain under detention, in order to prove that there is nothing to gain in the peace process, especially on the part of the revolutionary forces and the people. In adding another arrest of a JASIG-holder on the very eve of the resumption of the peace talks, the leadership of the fascist AFP and PNP want to show how easily they can violate all peace agreements and make it appear that the NDFP and the revolutionary forces are weak and have really nothing to leverage on and gain in the peace process. They want to use the peace process only to make the revolutionary forces capitulate.

At the time I was being arrested, I insisted that the arrest is a violation of the JASIG because I am a certified JASIG-holder. I have in fact turned over to my lawyer the details of my JASIG authorities and we can even have those details disclosed to the public in order to prove it. Yet, the arresting officers said that after they relayed my insisting to the top command of the AFP and PNP, the top officers ordered to proceed with the arrest and detention, and “to hell with the JASIG.”

I and the rest of the detained NDFP peace consultants demand that the issue of JASIG violations by the GPH should be resolved first before proceeding to other agenda. Otherwise, any further agreements supposed reached in the peace talks and in fact, the whole peace process becomes only a laughing stock for these fascists.

–
The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) – Philippines is an organization of former political detainees in the country. Founded in December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by former political prisoners during the Martial Law period. It works for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and humane treatment of those who are still in detention; for the advocacy on the conditions of political prisoners, the fundamental reasons for their arrest and detention, and their struggle for justice; mobilization of resources for political prisoners and their families; legislative actions on the indemnification and rehabilitation of political detainees; and promotion of partnerships and solidarity with organizations for the freedom and welfare of political prisoners and victims of tyranny.

proposal for marcos burial in libingan ng mga bayani

NEWS RELEASE

February 17, 2011

For reference: Fr. Dionito Cabillas, Secretary General (09175965859)

Niňo Buenaventura, Media Liaison Officer (0915-2805101)

FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS, VICTIMS UNDER MARTIAL LAW HIT BONGBONG-ENRILE PROPOSAL FOR MARCOS BURIAL IN LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI

An organization of former political prisoners, many of them victims during Martial Law, today vehemently opposed the proposals of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for former President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, calling it an “affront to the Filipino people and the thousands of victims of the Marcoses, especially as we commemorate this month the anniversary of People Power I.”

Fr. Dionito Cabillas, secretary general of the Samahan ng Ex-detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, said almost two decades of military rule under Marcos spawned numerous human rights violations, including summary executions, enforced disappearances, torture, illegal arrests and detention, hamletting and forced evacuation, among others.

“Immediately after People Power I, when the Filipino people drove Marcos, his family and military generals out of power, SELDA led the victims of human rights violations in filing a class action suit against the Marcoses in the United States Court. In September 22, 1992, the US Federal Court issued its landmark judgment in favor of the Marcos victims. The said decision has found Marcos guilty of gross human rights violations and the Estate of Marcos is liable to pay damages to the victims. How can a fascist dictator-president, ousted by the Filipino people, be deemed a hero?” Cabillas asserted.

Cabillas recalled that this similar proposal came up in 1999, under the Estrada presidency, and was vigorously opposed by the public.

“It has been 24 years since the ouster of Marcos, yet the victims during Martial Law have to yet to be fully rendered justice, including indemnification, for the horrific crimes against the Filipino people. This proposal insults the victims and their families and the Filipino people’s struggle against injustices and oppression,” he concluded.

–
The Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA) – Philippines is an organization of former political detainees in the country. Founded in December 4, 1984, SELDA was initiated by former political prisoners during the Martial Law period. It works for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and humane treatment of those who are still in detention; for the advocacy on the conditions of political prisoners, the fundamental reasons for their arrest and detention, and their struggle for justice; mobilization of resources for political prisoners and their families; legislative actions on the indemnification and rehabilitation of political detainees; and promotion of partnerships and solidarity with organizations for the freedom and welfare of political prisoners and victims of tyranny.

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