The
day the Senate said no to Uncle Sam
An insider's
account
by Roland Simbulan
Alalahanin
ang nakaraan, Kamtin ang Kinabukasan!
Kalayaan at Soberanya, Patuloy nating Ipaglaban!
Statement of Contend-UP
No to all-out war, yes
to peace negotiations
Editorial
Pagpukaw
sa kolektibong gunita
Heresies
Revisiting
the American Past
Etsa-Pwera
Ang
partnership ni Big Boss at ni Boss
A
tribute to Prof. Nieves Epistola
(July
24, 1946-Sept 10, 2002)
Referendum
A political option for Mindanao
by
Abhoud Syed Lingga
MMDA
Chair Bayani Fernando
Antihero?
by
Alicor Panao
Lies
and realities in labor force surveys
by Danilo Arao
Regent JPaul Manzanilla
UP Publications Online
Philippine Collegian
Diliman UPDate
UP Newsletter
Online
Index of issues
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NO TO ALL-OUT WAR,
YES TO PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
September 1, 2002
We, the undersigned Filipinos and friends of the Filipino people, strongly urge the Arroyo government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to resume immediately, and in earnest, the interrupted peace negotiations and thus seize the opportunity to end the country’s long-standing civil war.
Since 1986, the Philippine government and the NDF have been negotiating to resolve a civil war of more than 30 years. The signing of important documents, namely, The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, and an agreement to respect international humanitarian law attests to the progress that has been made on the process. To improve the atmosphere for the resumption of formal talks, the two parties need to affirm their commitment to implement these agreements.
Even before formal talks are resumed, we appeal to both parties to strictly observe, as they have promised to do, international humanitarian law, specifically the laws governing internal conflict. This will minimize damage to life and property, prevent deaths of non-combatants, and in general “humanize” the conflict.
We strongly urge both parties to desist from methods of negotiations that are supposed to advance the process but in fact violate the spirit and letter of the agreements that have been signed. By permanently stalling formal talks and leading the talks away from the path laid down in The Hague Declaration, these methods
We reject any interference by any foreign power that prevents or hinders the resumption of the formal peace negotiations. We particularly deplore the recent unilateral action of the U.S. government that declares the CCP and NPA to be “foreign terrorist organizations.” There is still a chance for peace if the contending parties in the civil war and all the Filipino people unite to uphold the country’s sovereignty and the people’s right to self-determination.
Considering that peace talks between the government and the NDF have not been formally terminated, U.S. intervention in the internal affairs of the Republic constitutes a blatant violation of Philippine sovereignty, breeds more instability, and intensifies the civil strife. Moreover, the unilateral U.S. action violates accepted standards of fair play and in general undermines the rule of law. It is motivated by a strategy of re-establishing U.S. military presence in the country through bases and military structures that would secure its hold on Asia.
By its acquiescence to the U.S. action, the Arroyo government has effectively tied its own hands and limited its option to negotiate. It has allowed a foreign power to dictate who its friends and enemies should be.
We, therefore, ask the Arroyo government to withdraw, as many other countries have done, its uncritical support for the U.S. war on terror whose limits the U.S. has reserved for itself to define. Continued support for this war of terror is a course that will only plunge the country into a regime of violent conflict and lay the country vulnerable to overt foreign military intervention. The Arroyo government would have to assume responsibility if the ravages and suffering Vietnam, Nicaragua and El Salvador underwent as a result of U.S. intervention are repeated in the Philippines.
We appeal to the government and the NDF to retrace the steps towards peace as a defiant act of national unity against foreign intervention.INITIATORS:
Cantos, Jessica Reyes (Action for Economic Reforms)
Fabros, Mercedes L. (WomanHealth-Philippines)
Lumbera, Dr. Bienvenido (Prof. Emeritus, Univ. of the Philippines)
Millamena, The Most Reverend Tomas A. (Obismo Maximo, Iglesia Filipina Independiente)
Marcelino, Aleli B.
Nemenzo, Ana Maria “Princess” R. (WomanHealth-Philippines)
Po, Julie L. (Secretary General, Concerned Artists of the Philippines)
Rivera, Dr. Temario C. (Prof., International Christian University, Tokyo)
Santos, Aida F. (Founding member, East Asia-U.S.-Puerto Rico
Women’s Network Against Militarism; KALAYAAN)
Simbulan, Prof. Roland (Prof., Univ. of the Philippines Manila)
Soliba, The Most Reverend Ignacio (Prime Bishop, Episcopal Church in the Philippines)
Diskusyon
The day the Senate said no to Uncle Sam
An insider's account
by Roland Simbulan
Kalayaan at Soberanya, Patuloy nating Ipaglaban!
Statement of Contend-UP
Copyright © 2001 The UP System Information Office
All Rights Reserved.
Updated October 9, 2002
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