THE national minorities – the indigenous peoples and the Bangsamoro, recognize the importance of talking peace to resolve the roots of social discontent and the on-going armed conflict.
We have longed for the Duterte government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to tackle and reach an agreement on genuine socioeconomic, political and constitutional reforms which dictates the oppression or freedom of the Filipino masses including us, the national minorities. It is in these substantive agenda that our struggle for our right for self-determination will be fully articulated. Therefore, the President Duterte’s call for the resumption peace talks is a vital move.
Yet, we are aware of the roadblocks ahead.
The Duterte regime has set preconditions to the NDFP that include a mutual ceasefire and a stop of the collection of revolutionary tax from big businesses. These particular issues are better discussed and resolved in the actual resumption of talks. The Hague Joint Declaration, a signed agreement by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and NDFP, stipulates that no preconditions should be imposed in order to pursue the peace talks.
Another obstacle is Mr. Roadblock himself – Defense chief General Delfin Lorenzana, a well-known US lackey and now martial law administrator in Mindanao. He has consistently and openly expressed strong opposition to peace talks with the NDFP. We fear, that if the peace negotiations will actually push through, the Defense chief and the military will not stop its brutal attacks not only against the armed revolutionary forces but against the communities of national minorities and the people. More violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), another signed agreement by both parties will continue.
This happened during the last rounds of talks in 2016-2017, even with the unilateral ceasefire declared by both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. Today, especially in Mindanao, bombings of communities, forced mass evacuations, threats and harassments and extrajudicial killings persists. This is certainly not ‘an enabling environment’ to pursue a just and lasting peace.
At this time, we call on the Duterte government to clear the roadblocks and pave the way for a “smooth ride” for the possible resumption of peace talks. And once both parties are on the table, we call on them to immediately talk about ending martial law in Mindanao and the withdrawal of the Justice Department’s petition and list of names to proscribe CPP-NPA as a terrorist group. Many of our indigenous peoples leaders are maliciously listed in the said petition. – JOANNA CARIÑO, JEROME SUCCOR ABA, co-chairpersons, SANDUGO Moro Katutubo <sandugo.kmkmsp@gmail.com>
