[asia-apec 991] NDFP CONDEMNS ESTRADA REGIME FOR ENDING THE GRP-NDFP NEGOTIATIONS

[tpl at cheerful.com]

>NOTE: Downloaded from the NDF website 
> 
>National Council
>National Democratic Front of the Philippines
>Press Statement
>10 December 1998
>
>NDFP CONDEMNS ESTRADA REGIME
>FOR ENDING THE GRP-NDFP NEGOTIATIONS
>AND FAILING TO FULFILL GRP OBLIGATIONS
>
>
>On the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
>National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) hereby condemns the
>Estrada regime for practically ending the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations under
>the pretext of "indefinite recess" and for failing to fulfill the
>obligations of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)
>under the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and
>International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
>
>The GRP has failed to fulfill the following urgent obligations:
>
>1.  The indemnification of  10,000 victims of human rights violations under
>the Marcos regime.  Mr. Estrada has been deceiving the Filipino people by
>promising a few months ago that he would indemnify the human rights
>claimants with one-third of the Marcos-linked assets in an escrow account.
>We have been informed that, on the contrary, he has agreed with Mrs. Imelda
>Marcos to ignore the claim of the victims of human rights violations.
>
>2.  The release of political prisoners.  Either no one or a mere token few
>are going to be released.  Recent events manifest that the policy of the
>regime is to imprison or kill suspected revolutionaries.
>
>3.  The repeal of repressive decrees.  The Estrada regime has not endorsed
>for urgent legislative action the repeal of any of the repressive decrees.
>
>4.  The end of policies, campaigns and practices that victimize entire
>communities.  The military, police and paramilitary forces continue to
>engage in the most brutal actions that force the eviction and evacuation of
>people, especially in the countryside.
>
>5.  The formation of the joint monitoring committee.  The GRP has refused
>to appoint its representatives and nominate its observers.
>
>With overweening arrogance, the GRP has informed the NDFP that it will not
>honor its own approval of the CARHRIHL, unless the NDFP capitulates to the
>GRP.
>
>The NDFP stands by its revolutionary integrity and principles and condemns
>the bad faith of Mr. Estrada.  Shortly after he had approved the CARHRIHL,
>he proceeded to scuttle the entire peace negotiations by demanding the
>capitulation of the NDFP.
>
>The GRP demand is a precondition in brazen violation of The Hague Joint
>Declaration, the CARHRIHL and all the related agreements mutually agreed
>upon and signed by the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels and their respective
>principals.
>
>By scuttling the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, the Estrada regime proves
>that at its core are the worst agents of US imperialism and the local
>exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords, especially the Marcoses
>and most rapacious Marcos cronies such as Eduardo Cojuangco and Lucio Tan.
>
>The policies and acts of the US-Estrada regime lead us to conclude that it
>will not only continue the anti-people policies of the US-Ramos regime but
>will also surpass its predecessor in violating human rights in pursuit of
>the most reactionary interests.  All revolutionary forces and the broad
>masses of the people must be vigilant and be resolute in fighting the
>US-Estrada regime.  This regime is the concentrated expression of the
>counterrevolutionary forces in the country and includes the most
>unrepentant, the most thieving and most brutal descendants of the Marcos
>dictatorship.
>
>
>National Executive Committee
>National Democratic Front of the Philippines
> 
>                                                                   
>Certified:  Luis G. Jalandoni
>            Member, NDFP National Executive Committee
>            Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel
>