By RUTH DE LEON
Executive Director
NDFP International Information Office
Statements made by Secretary Eduardo Ermita and other factotums of the Arroyo regime like Nieves Confesor expose their gross ignorance of the provisions of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG)… The formal talks are postponed but the work of the Joint Monitoring Committee is continuing in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The Hague Joint Declaration, the JASIG, the Oslo Joint Statement of February 14, 2004 and the Second Oslo Joint Statement, and other NDFP-GRP agreements remain valid.
By RUTH DE LEON
Executive Director
NDFP International Information Office
Statements made by Secretary Eduardo Ermita and other factotums of the Arroyo regime like Nieves Confesor expose their gross ignorance of the provisions of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).
The JASIG provides that this agreement can be terminated only through a written notice of termination. Thirty days after receipt of such written notice, the JASIG is terminated.
Neither party to the peace negotiations has given written notice of termination of the JASIG. The safety and immunity guarantees provided by the JASIG remain binding and effective.
The NDFP’s postponement of the formal talks with the Arroyo administration does not terminate the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. The NDFP distinguishes the dying Arroyo regime from the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) with which the NDFP has negotiated 12 agreements since 1992.
The formal talks are postponed but the work of the Joint Monitoring Committee is continuing in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The Hague Joint Declaration, the JASIG, the Oslo Joint Statement of February 14, 2004 and the Second Oslo Joint Statement, and other NDFP-GRP agreements remain valid.
The NDFP Negotiating Panel has declared that there is no point in holding formal talks with the Arroyo regime that has repeatedly placed obstacles on such talks, obstinately refused to comply with its obligations in accordance with the agreements it has signed, and is now in the process of crumbling under the pressure of the people outraged by its high crimes.
The formal talks between the Negotiating Panel of the NDFP and the Negotiating Panel of the GRP can be resumed as soon as the new regime arises, complies with the GRP-NDFP bilateral agreements and cooperates with the NDFP in removing obstacles to the formal talks.
The threats of Secretary Ermita and Nieves Confesor expose their gross ignorance of the JASIG and brutal character and propensities of the officials of the Arroyo regime.
