By Bulatlat.com
Posted 1:10 p.m., Aug. 21, 2008
A progressive party-list group has urged the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to resume their peace negotiations, placing respect for human rights and international humanitarian law on top of the agenda.
“Even as both panels address the problems caused by the goverment’s deliberate mishandling and bad faith on the MOA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain), they should also discuss ways to immediately de-escalate hostilities and ensure that human rights and international humanitarian law are respected in the midst of the armed conflict,” said Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Teddy Casiño.
Casiño said allegations of violations of international conventions and protocols on the conduct of war, particularly on protecting civilians during times of armed conflict, have to be seriously addressed.
“The GRP, through the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), should conduct investigations on alleged violations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) including indiscriminate arial and artillery bombings in MILF-controlled communities, Casiño said.
“Historically and up to the present, the AFP has been the biggest violator of human rights and international humanitarian law,” he added.
In the same light, however, Casino said the MILF is duty bound to conduct its own investigations on allegations that Abdurahman Macapaar alias Commander Bravo and Commander Ameril Umbra Kato were responsible for recent attacks against civilians. “As a liberation movement, they are expected to adhere to conventions and protocols on human rights and international humanitarian law,” Casiño said.
Earlier, Bayan Muna accused the government of bad faith in entering into the MOA-AD, saying it failed to consult its own officials and other stakeholders on the contents of the agreement.
“The latest escalation of the conflict is directly attributed to the government’s lack of sincerity in the talks, particularly its insidious plan to use the MOA-AD to push for charter change,” Casiño said. (Posted by Bulatlat.com)
