29 August 2019
Dear friends,
Peace be with you!
Horrendous killings of unarmed farmers and other civilians in Negros Island sound the alarm on a drastically deteriorating human rights situation in the Philippines over the last ten months. Shadowy death squads have killed teachers, a lawyer, and several local government officials. With the involvement of state security forces in violent incidents, fear has struck the hearts of Negrenses.
The killing of four policemen—for which the New People’s Army in Negros claimed responsibility as part of their group’s response to heightened police and military operations under Memorandum Order 32—was responded to by President Duterte with large bounties for the arrest of these policemen’s killers. Even firefighters are expected to participate in the government’s stepped-up counterinsurgency efforts.
Peace, justice, and human rights advocates urgently need to ring the bells of peace, including calling for an impartial investigation into the facts, circumstance and underlying causes of the surge in killings in Negros.
We are inviting you to join us for an important peace forum:
Ring out peace, our urgent call!
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, SJ, DD
Keynote Address
9am-11:45am, September 12, 2019
Martin de Porres Hall, Santo Domingo Church
Quezon Avenue, Quezon City.
Peace advocates continue to call for the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace talks, which can lead to a stand down, create space to negotiate a de-escalation of armed conflict, and reduce the climate of fear enveloping provinces like Negros. Acknowledging that social inequity and injustice underlie armed conflicts in the country, the peace talks can also seek to address the roots of the armed conflict, without resorting to all-out war and human rights violations.
We will assess together how the human rights and peace situation has deteriorated In the 21 months since President Duterte terminated the peace negotiations with the NDFP and announced the shift to localized peace talks. We will also seek to analyze the intention and impact of Executive Order 70 “institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach in attaining an inclusive and sustainable peace” and “creating a national task force to end communist local armed conflict.” Finally, we will articulate a common plan for how peace advocates can work to bring about the peace our people deserve.
At moments in history when the skies became overcast, peace advocates stepped forward to brandish torches of hope and possibility. We must stand the gap, build bridges, and forge a way ahead to create the atmosphere needed for building peace in our land.
Your questions or concerns may be addressed to Ofelia Cantor of PEPP mobile phone # 0927630-3392 or by email: peaceplatform2007@gmail.com or Becca Lawson of Pilgrims for Peace by phone at 0928-385-4123 or by email at pilgrims.peace.phils@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you there!
