NDFP -- Mindanao fully supports the ceasefire
and welcomes the resumption of the peace talks*
Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao
December 8, 2010
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Mindanao (NDFP-Mindanao) expresses its full and unequivocal support to the unilateral declaration of the national leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP-MLM) to "all commands and units of the New People's Army (NPA) and the people's militia a ceasefire order to be effective upon the reciprocal and concurrent ceasefire order from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to its military, police and paramilitary forces, within the period of 24:00H of 15 December 2010 to 24:00H of 03 January 2011."
As expressed in the above mentioned declaration, we reiterate, to wit: "In conformity with the mutual ceasefire between the GRP and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), all the commands and units of the NPA shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive operations against the armed units and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police and paramilitary forces of the GRP."
However, while the mutual ceasefire is in effect, we stress further that "all commands and units of the NPA and the people's militia shall be in a defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels but shall remain vigilant against any encroachment on the territory of the people's democratic government, surveillance or offensive operations by the armed commands and units of the GRP. Active self-defense shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger."
The mutually declared ceasefire is truly a welcome and an opportune step to bolster the peace talks between the NDFP and the GRP, and provide an opportunity for the NPA Red fighters as well as all soldiers of the GRP, and the rest of the Filipino people for a peaceful and unhampered traditional Yuletide and New Year's celebration.
It has always been our fervent wish for the peace talks to finally resume, and subsequently, move on towards the resolution of the root causes of the armed conflict so that just and lasting peace maybe enjoyed by the whole Filipino nation. We hope that this propitious window of opportunity for the peace process would encourage the GRP to honor and implement all previous agreements, such as the Hague Joint Declaration, the Breukelen Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), and proceed in congruence with the order of the four substantive agenda. Confidence is bolstered as Ka Luis Jalandoni was able to return to the Philippines to visit.
Moreover, in keeping with the spirit of the talks, we look forward to the GRP's goodwill gestures, that include the release of all political detainees in the country, including NDFP consultants and staff. In Mindanao, we anticipate the release of Angie Bisuna Ipong, Alfredo Mapano, Lucy Canda-Daval, Ma. Luisa Porcray, and many others. Further, we hope that the GRP pursue the prosecution, under its courts, of those who have cases filed and pending before the Joint Monitoring Committee, and, the lifting of terror tag on the CPP, NPA and NDF.
It is only regrettable that the Aquino government had to extend Oplan Bantay Laya until the end of the year in continuation of the brutal suppression campaign begun by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which not only obfuscated opportunities for the peace process to resume and prosper, but further aggravated human rights violation nationwide.
It is most fortunate, however, that both parties have struck a breakthrough; and, for the talks to succeed, it would be most beneficial to all stakeholders for the GRP under Benigno Aquino III to seriously implement the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law (CARHR-IHL), and sincerely talk with the NDFP if it wishes to dissociate from the inopportune attitude of its immediate predecessor, which violated mutually-signed agreements, and placed the lives of NDFP consultants and staff in grave danger.
In parallel, we are one with the continuing struggle of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the entire Moro people for the respect and full recognition of their right to self-determination. Thus, in support of the substantive agenda therein laid down in the talks, we desire no less than for the GRP-MILF talks to resume sans further delay, and yield results that would be beneficial for the Moro people in general, the Lumad, and for the rest of the people in Mindanao.
The NDFP-Mindanao calls on all peace loving people and all peace advocates in Mindanao and the rest of the country to courageously take on the responsibility of seeing to it that both parties in this delicate peace process tackle the most basic societal issues that spawn the current armed conflict - such as human rights violations, social and economic reform, sovereignty and patrimony -- in the interest of attaining peace that is truly just and lasting.
* Url: http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2010/12/ndfp-mindanao-fully-supports-ceasefire.html
