Fil-Am activists: Calling off peace talks a big mistake | ABS-CBN
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Fil-Am activists: Calling off peace talks a big mistake
Fil-Am activists: Calling off peace talks a big mistake
Rommel Conclara,
ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Published Feb 09, 2017 05:28 PM PHT
Some Filipino-Americans who recently returned from the southern Philippines are condemning President Rodrigo Duterte for ending the peace talks.
Some Filipino-Americans who recently returned from the southern Philippines are condemning President Rodrigo Duterte for ending the peace talks.
Filipino-Americans Katie Joaquin and Jassmin Poyaoan recently returned to the US after spending eight days with a Lumad community in Mindanao.
Filipino-Americans Katie Joaquin and Jassmin Poyaoan recently returned to the US after spending eight days with a Lumad community in Mindanao.
The two Pinays were part of a small delegation who said they wanted to document the peace process between the National Democratic Front (NDF) with the government of the Philippines or GRP.
The two Pinays were part of a small delegation who said they wanted to document the peace process between the National Democratic Front (NDF) with the government of the Philippines or GRP.
Duterte’s decision to scrap the ceasefire and peace talks with the communist rebels, after reports that guerrilla soldiers killed six soldiers and kidnapped two others, is being called a mistake by these Fil-Ams.
Duterte’s decision to scrap the ceasefire and peace talks with the communist rebels, after reports that guerrilla soldiers killed six soldiers and kidnapped two others, is being called a mistake by these Fil-Ams.
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“Ending the peace process is like turning your back on the desires of the Filipino people to address the reason why there is civil war in the country,” said Joaquin.
“Ending the peace process is like turning your back on the desires of the Filipino people to address the reason why there is civil war in the country,” said Joaquin.
After spending time with the Lumads, they said they were told and saw how the Philippine government did not respect the ceasefire.
After spending time with the Lumads, they said they were told and saw how the Philippine government did not respect the ceasefire.
“Our guides were able to point to us where the para-military encampments were, where the Armed Forces of the Philippines were. They gave us the full context that they always have to be on the lookout,” said Poyaoan, secretary-general of Anakbayan East Bay.
“Our guides were able to point to us where the para-military encampments were, where the Armed Forces of the Philippines were. They gave us the full context that they always have to be on the lookout,” said Poyaoan, secretary-general of Anakbayan East Bay.
Prior to his recent arrest, Ariel Arbitrario, a consultant of the NDF and alleged secretary-general of a guerilla unit in southern Mindanao, met with the Fil-Ams during their trip.
Prior to his recent arrest, Ariel Arbitrario, a consultant of the NDF and alleged secretary-general of a guerilla unit in southern Mindanao, met with the Fil-Ams during their trip.
They said Arbitrario’s basic rights are being ignored because of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) that was reaffirmed by both parties in the first round of peace talks last August.
They said Arbitrario’s basic rights are being ignored because of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) that was reaffirmed by both parties in the first round of peace talks last August.
“JASIG is still in effect for the next 30 days until March 9 and any arrests in between that time are illegal and unlawful. The GRP and President Duterte, out of respect for human rights and respect for agreements and respect for this process, should abide by those requirements,” Poyaoan said.
“JASIG is still in effect for the next 30 days until March 9 and any arrests in between that time are illegal and unlawful. The GRP and President Duterte, out of respect for human rights and respect for agreements and respect for this process, should abide by those requirements,” Poyaoan said.
They were also given a copy of the Comprehensive Agreement of Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER) from Arbitrario before they returned to the US to ensure some of the progress would be saved.
They were also given a copy of the Comprehensive Agreement of Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER) from Arbitrario before they returned to the US to ensure some of the progress would be saved.
“He explained to us that there was a lot of professional thought that went into it. All the consultations that happened with peasants, workers, the Lumads to come up with the plan for how land will be used to end hunger for how industry could be set up so the Philippines can be self-reliant,” said Joaquin.
“He explained to us that there was a lot of professional thought that went into it. All the consultations that happened with peasants, workers, the Lumads to come up with the plan for how land will be used to end hunger for how industry could be set up so the Philippines can be self-reliant,” said Joaquin.
They said more organizing from Filipinos and Filipino-Americans will be necessary to stop further bloodshed between the NDF and the GRP.
They said more organizing from Filipinos and Filipino-Americans will be necessary to stop further bloodshed between the NDF and the GRP.
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