Photos courtesy of

PPT on Philippines 2-Intl Coordinating Secretariat

Senator Madrigal, NDFP push for accelerated peace talks

Ruth de Leon
Executive Director
International Information Office
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
October 13, 2007

(Amsterdam, 13 October) Philippine Senator Jamby Madrigal and Luis G. Jalandoni of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines signed yesterday a historic joint statement, pushing for the resumption of formal talks and acceleration of peace negotiations between the armed revolutionaries of the NDFP and the Manila government within the presidential term of Gloria M. Arroyo, or even after. (The joint statement is attached hereto.)

The joint statement, hammered out after two days of intensive discussion between the two sides, called for the formation of a Technical Working Group which would assist "in hastening the resolution of the remaining items in the substantive agenda of the peace negotiations" for the purpose of enacting legislation. Sen. Madrigal and Jalandoni agreed that such a process would demonstrate that "it is possible to make mutually satisfactory agreements for the common benefit of the Filipino people and to produce the bases for accelerated negotiations and agreements."

Also present during the discussions and signing were Prof. Jose Maria Sison, NDFP Chief Political Consultant, and Fidel V. Agcaoili, NDFP Negotiating Panel member.

Senator Madrigal and the NDFP Negotiating Panel agreed that the Philippines is in a grave social crisis and that the resumption of the peace negotiations is urgently needed. They agreed that the negotiations "must adress the roots of the armed conflict and forge agreements on social, economic, political and constitutional reforms in order to effect a just and lasting peace". They also expressed common concern about "the Arroyo regime's wanton corruption, gross and systematic violation of human rights and subservience to foreign vested interests."

The government of Gloria M. Arroyo in Manila has been refusing to continue peace negotiations with the NDFP, ignoring demands from opposition political parties and the powerful Christian Churches in the Philippines. It has instead stepped up armed attacks against the territories of the New People's Army and the Communist Party of the Philippines, and unleashed paramilitary death squads against legal opposition parties and organizations.

One of the leaders of the crusade against government corruption and a staunch promoter of social reforms in the Philippines, Sen. Jamby Madrigal currently chairs the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation. She is also the chairperson of the Cultural Communities Committee and the Youth, Women and Family Relations Committee in the Philippine Senate. ##

REFERENCE:
Ruth de Leon
Executive Director
NDFP International Information Office
Tel.+31-30-2310431
Fax +31-84-7589930
Email: ndf@casema.nl

Sen. Madrigal with Luis Jalandoni and Prof. Sison

Prof. Sison with Atty. Jan Fermon 

Reactors:
Prof. Jose Maria Sison               - Chairperson, International

                                                       League  of Peoples' Struggle
                               
Date:      12 October 2007

Where: Universeteit van Amsterdam
             Oudemanhuispoort 4 - 6
             1012 CN Amsterdam

Sponsored by:        Rice and Rights, the Netherlands
                               Committee DEFEND International

JOINT STATEMENT OF SEN. M. A. MADRIGAL
AND THE NDFP NEGOTIATING PANEL
ON GRP-NDFP PEACE NEGOTIATIONS


On 12 October 2007, Senator M.A. Madrigal met with the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and Chief Political Consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

1.Senator M. A. Madrigal presented the objectives of her meeting with the NDFP Negotiating Panel and Prof. Sison: to know the position of the NDFP on the peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP); to hear the NDFP Negotiating Panel regarding problems in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations; to obtain from the NDFP panelists, consultants and staffers information regarding the raids on their office and homes on 28 August 2007 pursuant to Senate Resolutions Nos. 89 and 108; and to explore ways for the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations during or after the term of Gloria M. Arroyo.

2.In representation of the NDFP Negotiating Panel, Chairperson Luis Jalandoni welcomed Senator Madrigal and agreed with the objectives of her visit. He declared that the NDFP considers the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations as ongoing inasmuch as neither the NDFP nor the GRP has terminated the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG); that the NDFP is ever willing to resume formal talks within the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992; that the 12 agreements already made by the GRP and NDFP remain valid and binding; and that the GRP, NDFP and the Norwegian government as facilitator clearly consider the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law as valid and binding.

3.Senator Madrigal and the NDFP Negotiating Panel agreed that
Philippine society is afflicted by a grave economic, political, cultural and moral crisis and that the resumption of formal talks in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations is urgently needed. They expressed common concern about the Arroyo regime's wanton corruption, gross and systematic violation of human rights and subservience to foreign vested interests. They pointed to the urgent necessity of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations within the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration. The peace negotiations must address the roots of the armed conflict and forge the agreements on social, economic, political and constitutional reforms in order to effect a just and lasting peace.

4. Chairperson Jalandoni described the following as impediments to the resumption of formal talks: the repeated declaration of all-out war against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People's Army (NPA) and the NDFP by the Arroyo regime (demanding the capitulation of these revolutionary forces and negotiations at the local level for the purpose of splitting them); the brutal campaigns of military and police suppression involving such gross and systematic human right violations as the forced displacement of more than one million people from their homes and land and the extrajudicial killing, abduction and torture of more than 1000 unarmed legal activists; the failure of the GRP to comply with its obligations in Oslo Joint Statements I and II regarding the terrorist blacklisting of the CPP, NPA and Prof. Sison; the failure of the GRP to comply with the obligation to compensate the victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime; and the false charges against Prof. Sison resulting in his unjust arrest, detention and continuing persecution and the arbitrary and oppressive raids on the NDF Information Office and homes of NDFP negotiating panelists, consultants and staffers.

He welcomed the proposal of Senator Madrigal that the aforesaid NDFP negotiating panelists, consultants and staffers provide information for the purpose of inquiry by the Philippine Senate. He recognized the importance of establishing the anomalous role of certain officials of the Arroyo regime in deceiving and pushing the Dutch government to undertake actions against Prof. Sison and NDFP Negotiating Panel. In this regard, the information is provided in the form of videotaped statements and other documentary evidence. Chairperson Jalandoni expressed appreciation for the determination of Senator Madrigal to push the urgently needed Senate resolution and legislation to set things aright and improve the conditions for resuming the formal talks in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations during or after the term of the Arroyo regime.

He proposed that while the Arroyo regime is intransigently against the resumption of formal talks in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation (Committee on Peace) and the NDFP Negotiating Panel form their respective committees of experts, with five

members each, to discuss the three remaining items (social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and end of hostilities and disposition of forces) and produce within one
year a common draft agreement for each of the three items. The process will not supplant the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations within the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration but will be undertaken to aid legislation, demonstrate that it is possible to make mutually satisfactory agreements for the common benefit of the Filipino people and to produce the basis for accelerated negotiations and agreements in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

5. Senator Madrigal welcomed the declaration of the NDFP that it
considers the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations valid and continuing in effectivity and that it is ever willing to resume formal talks within
the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration and subsequent agreements. She also agreed that the impediments to the peace negotiations be resolved, starting with the resolution of those prejudicial questions presented by the NDFP.

She thanked Chairperson Luis Jalandoni and the NDFP Negotiating Panel for cooperating and providing information regarding the arrest, detention and continuing investigation of Prof. Jose Maria Sison and the raids on the NDF Information Office and homes of the NDFP negotiating panelists, consultants and staffers. She expressed concern that the GRP has repeatedly lobbied foreign governments to take adverse actions against the NDFP Negotiating Panel. She assured the Panel that in her capacity as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Peace, she would encourage its members and exert all efforts to promote the immediate resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

She explained the purposes of Senate Resolution No. 108, which she filed and which is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Peace. This resolution seeks to direct the committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the arrest, detention and continuing investigation of Prof. Sison and the raids on the NDF Information Office and homes of the NDFP negotiating panelists and staffers. She also explained the method of taking their statements and using them for the purpose of a Senate inquiry.
 

She added that as an alternative to creating a committee of experts, she would instead hear Senate Resolution No. 89, which she authored, concerning the review of the status of negotiations between the GRP and NDFP and create a Technical Working Group to assist in hastening the resolution of the remaining items in the substantive agenda of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations for the purpose of enacting remedial legislation, thus demonstrating that it is possible to produce agreements and actually use these to accelerate the progress and success of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. The meetings of the Technical Working Group shall be held in venues deemed appropriate for its purpose.

6. Chairperson Jalandoni expressed appreciation to Senator Madrigal for her efforts to carry out Resolution No. 89 and for her proposal to create a Technical Working Group in order to develop the will and resourcefulness of the GRP in undertaking peace negotiations with the NDFP, carry out consultations and seek cooperation with the NDFP and encourage both the GRP and NDFP to resume and carry the peace negotiations forward until the goal of a just and lasting peace is achieved.
 

7. Senator Madrigal and the NDFP Negotiating Panel agreed that all patriotic Filipino parties, organizations, institutions, individuals
and the broad masses of the people must unite to encourage the GRP and NDFP to resume the formal talks in their peace negotiations, address the roots of the armed conflict, accelerate the forging of agreements and bring about a just and lasting peace. They agreed that the solidarity and support of the peoples and states in the international community are needed for the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

Signed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on the 12th day of October 2007.

Signatories:
 

Senator M.A. Madrigal           Luis G. Jalandoni
                                              Chairperson

                                              For the Negotiating Panel
                                              of the National Democratic Front of   

                                               the Philippines

Statement in PDF format

Review and  Updates on the Peace Process

between the GRP and the NDFP

Paper presented by Atty. Edre U. Olalia

NDFP-Joint Secretariat Legal Consultant

during the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP)

Luzon Regional Consultation Workshop,

Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines, October 11, 2007 [1]

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) considers the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP to be ongoing and what is suspended are the formal meetings of their negotiating panels. 

The NDFP also firmly affirms that all agreements signed with the GRP remain binding and effective. The Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), which was established in February 2004 as mandated by the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) entered into by the two parties back in March 1998, continues to function, albeit presently not as fully and effectively as it was envisioned.

Prior to the break in the formal meetings, there have been several indications that support the NDFP position that the GRP is not negotiating in good faith.

In July 2004, upon learning that the entire Marcos ill-gotten wealth held in escrow had been transferred to the GRP treasury the previous March, the NDFP strongly criticized the move. A significant portion of the amount was supposed to be earmarked for the indemnification of the human rights victims of the dictatorship.

The NDFP also raised the issue of the release of political prisoners, the worsening and increasing number of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and the GRP’s failure to resolve the issue of the ‘terrorist' listing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the New People’s Army (NPA) and the NDFP Chief Political Consultant, Prof. Jose Ma. Sison.

The NDFP considers these issues as prejudicial questions that should be settled before formal negotiations can resume. While they do not constitute as preconditions for the resumption of the formal meetings, they need to be addressed and resolved priorly

before any meaningful and principled negotiations can realistically be expected or achieved between the parties. After all, these have 

 been agreed upon, among others, in the Oslo I and II Joint Statements of February and April 2004, respectively. The NDFP is simply asking the GRP to comply with its previous commitments and abide by existing agreements.

To further compound matters, the US government released a new list of so-called foreign terrorist organizations and individuals in August 2004.  The list still included the CPP, NPA and Prof. Sison. These prompted the NDFP Negotiating Panel to postpone the formal talks... The postponement was a move to give the GRP ample time to comply with its obligations in accordance with The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), the CARHRIHL and the Oslo Joint Statements I and II.  

The GRP, however,  in December 2004 formally suspended the formal talks in the negotiations. In August the following year, it also whimsically and unilaterally suspended the JASIG. The so-called JASIG suspension – which is not allowed by its provisions for being anathema to its objectives -  essentially put the peace negotiations in limbo. The NDFP maintains that the JASIG remains valid and binding, and that the peace negotiations are ongoing because neither of the negotiating parties has terminated the JASIG and consequently the peace negotiations.

For its part, the NDFP has done its best to break the impasse and to ensure that the peace talks continue. The NDFP has submitted concrete proposals for this purpose, among them are the paper entitled Responding to Prejudicial Questions, Accelerating  Peace Negotiations through Informal Meetings of Special Representatives of the Principals (June 2005); the 10-point Concise Agreement for an Immediate Ceasefire (August 2005); and the NDFP Package of Proposals (November 2005).   

Instead of meeting the efforts of the NDFP halfway, the GRP virtually suspended the peace negotiations when, in February 2006 at the height of Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo’s issuance of an authoritarian Proclamation 1017 or a “state of emergency,” it concocted rebellion charges against Prof. Sison, NDFP Panel Chairperson Luis Jalandoni; NDFP Panel members Fidel Agcaoili and Juliet Sison; and some NDFP Panel consultants.

The GRP’s Department of Justice also attacked the integrity of the NDFP-Nominated Section of the Joint Secretariat by recklessly identifying its office as the supposed address of many of the individuals it charged with a hodgepodge of various acts of rebellion, including those who are publicly known to be in the underground movement.........

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