After 21 years of JASIG
“It has been 21 years since the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines signed the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG); and, for 21 years, this agreement continues to be violated by the Philippine Government (GPH) through arrests and detention and abduction of peace consultants,” Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez said today. Hilao-Enriquez is one of the independent observers of the peace negotiations between the GPH and the NDFP.
After 21 years of JASIG
“It has been 21 years since the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines signed the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG); and, for 21 years, this agreement continues to be violated by the Philippine Government (GPH) through arrests and detention and abduction of peace consultants,” Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez said today. Hilao-Enriquez is one of the independent observers of the peace negotiations between the GPH and the NDFP.
The JASIG was one of the first documents signed between the NDFP and the GPH to facilitate the peace negotiations and “by providing safety and immunity guarantees to NDFP consultants to create a favourable atmosphere for free discussion and free movement during negotiations,” Hilao-Enriquez cited.
“The US-Aquino regime has deliberately jeopardized the peace process by arresting, detaining, torturing, and harassing peace consultants of the NDFP. There are 18 peace consultants currently detained facing criminal trumped up charges,” Enriquez said. They are Jaime Soledad, Emeterio Antalan, Tirso Alcantara, Leopoldo Caloza, Eduardo Sarmiento, Afredo Mapano, Alan Jazmines, Wilma Tiamzon, Benito Tiamzon, Loida Magpatoc, Renante Gamara, Adelberto Silva, Kennedy Bangibang, Pedro Codaste, Ruben Saluta, Edgardo Friginal, Ernesto Lorenzo, and Concha Araneta-Bocala.
Hilao-Enriquez also mentioned the case of Eduardo Serrano, who died in January of heart attack. Serrano was imprisoned for 11 years, not only on false charges, but also for criminal cases meant for a certain Rogelio Villanueva.
Also, there are 11 peace consultants and staff missing. The Aquino regime did nothing to investigate or even locate these peace consultants. One of them is Leo Velasco, who was abducted nine years ago, on February 19, 2007. Other peace consultants and staff who are missing to date are Prudencio Calubid, his wife Celina Palma, Calubid’s niece Gloria Soco, staff Ariel Beloy; father and son Rogelio and Gabriel Calubad; Philip Limjoco, Leopoldo Ancheta, Ceasar Batralo, and Rolando Porter.
“The climate for ‘free discussion and movement’ does not exist. The violations of the JASIG, not to mention the killings of activists and leaders of legal organizations, became a major stumbling block in the pursuit of a just peace in the country. BS Aquino, like his predecessors, did not take the peace talks seriously because it counters the interests of its imperialist and landlord masters. In turn, the NDFP consultants became target of the regime’s orders of battle and reward system,” Hilao said.
“The issue of peace poses a challenge to those vying for the presidency. Hopefully, the next president learns that violating people’s rights and the JASIG, and refusing to talk peace will not result to ending the armed conflict, but will only spark more resistance of the people. History has taught us this,” she added.
“The Philippine government will have to first address the root causes of the civil war before there could be genuine peace,” Hilao-Enriquez ended.