Peace prospects one year after Oslo statement

I am sure that peace based on justice will be achieved. 

The Council of Leaders for Peace Initiatives (CLPI) is a collegial, multistakeholder, and diverse body of Filipino advocates of a just and lasting peace in the Philippines that seeks to build bridges and spaces for dialogue, foster a culture of understanding and appreciation for peace building, accompany the victims of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law as a result of armed conflict, raise public awareness, and create support for the peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

I happen to be one of the convenors and the spokesperson of CLPI.

Our vision for the Philippines is a just and lasting peace. This can be achieved by addressing the roots of the armed conflict through substantive socioeconomic and political reforms that respond to systemic inequality and social injustice. believes that it can play a significant role in the various mechanisms that can lead to the achievement of a just peace.

On occasion of one year anniversary of the Oslo Joint Statement of Nov 23, 2023 between the GRP and NDFP, the CPLI issued this statement at the end of a peace summit we convened last Thursday, 21 November 2024.

“We, peace advocates, gather in Manila to mark the one year anniversary of the Oslo Joint Statement, signed last year on 23 November 2023 by the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). with equal parts optimism and trepidation.

We continue to draw hope from the main points of the Joint Statement that speak of the seriousness of the two Parties to address the underlying causes of the armed conflict and in so doing, arrive at a final peace settlement through negotiations.

We hold fast to the official pronouncements of both Parties of their commitment to stay the course and unite on a framework for restarting the peace negotiations and overcoming remaining obstacles. We hope that discussions on such a framework are ongoing and progressing. We wait for the Parties’ public pronouncements in this regard.

At the same time, we are concerned that some quarters of the GRP continue to believe that heightened counterinsurgency operations together with barangay “development” projects and a surrender and reintegration program will suffice to end the long-running armed conflict. On the contrary, such operations, projects, and programs have the opposite outcome of resulting in more human rights violations, development aggression, corruption, and increasing the social conflict in rural and urban areas.

Meanwhile our people, especially the most vulnerable and underprivileged among the basic sectors — the jobless, the underpaid and overworked; the hungry, sick and distraught families; those whose human rights are routinely violated — are looking for solutions to income inequality, social injustice and impaired democracy. Social unrest, dissension as well as armed rebellion are undeniable consequences.

We thus call on the GRP and the NDFP to redouble their efforts and hasten the process of reopening the formal peace negotiations if our people are to be reenergized and convinced to support the peace process as the better way to bring about a just and lasting peace in our land. 

We call for trust and confidence building measures by the Parties to enable a fruitful dialogue on the roots of the conflict and the political measures needed to move the negotiations forward. ‘

We view with alarm the recent arrests of three NDFP peace consultants covered by safety and immunity guarantees that are necessary and indispensable if the two Parties are to be able to return to the negotiating table. We call for the release of the many other consultants who have been arrested and detained since President Duterte called off the peace process in 2017.

We are also concerned about the recent incidents of enforced disappearances of activists and human rights and environmental defenders. This is anathema to peace.

We call on both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army to refrain from offensive operations during this time when the country is reeling from a series of climate disasters.

We call for a temporary bilateral ceasefire agreement between the government and revolutionary forces during the Christmas season and beyond should the talks progress.

We urge both parties to adhere to International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, regardless of a ceasefire agreement and as a way to mitigate the human rights violations that we have raised.

The OSLO Joint Statement recognized that peace is an imperative for our country that is faced with serious socioeconomic and environmental issues, and foreign security challenges. Those issues and challenges have become more stark in the past 12 months. More than ever, we need to unite as a nation so we can urgently address these challenges and resolve the underlying reasons for the armed conflict.”

I was asked to give the final word at the end of the peace summit. I said, speaking from my 40 years experience of the peace process where I have been a negotiator, facilitator, academic, and advocate, I am sure that the morning is coming, that peace based on justice will be achieved. Magkaisa! (Lets unite!) Laban! (Fight! Kapayapaan at hustisya!(peace and justice!) Peace talks now!

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