ICHRP would like to inform our audience of an upcoming International People’s Tribunal which is taking place from May 17-18, 2024. The tribunal is being jointly convened by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle. In solidarity with the Filipino people’s struggle for a just and lasting peace, the conveners will investigate and expose the war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law of the US government and the Marcos and Duterte regimes, in the context of a violent counter-insurgency strategy in the Philippines. More information will be released in the coming months.
Webinar: The Peace Process in the Philippines, The Ecumenical Community, and the Tasks Ahead
When: January 30, 2024, at 6am PST / 9am EST / 3pm CEST / 10pm PHT.
Topic: The Peace Process in the Philippines, The Ecumenical Community, and the Tasks Ahead
Register in advance for this webinar at ichrp.net/Jan30Webinar
Friends in faith,
We are pleased to announce the next event in the calendar of the ICHRP International Interfaith Network, a network of dozens of faith organizations and individuals from around the world who are united in defending human rights in the Philippines.
In light of the recent announcement that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines have the intention to resume peace talks, the International Interfaith Network wants to highlight the importance of the peace talks process in the path towards just and lasting peace in the Philippines, and the key role played by people of faith in this process. Our webinar on January 30 will review the history of peace talks between the GRP and NDFP since they began in 1986, and begin to shed light on some of the important tasks of the faith community that lay ahead of us. Register at the link above.
International Human Rights Coalition Condemns Aerial Bombings by AFP, and Other Violations of IHL by AFP, During the Holiday Season
Press Release
January 4, 2024
“The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) strongly condemns the disproportionate use of weapons in an aerial bombardment by the 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the AFP on December 25 until December 26, 2023, in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, in Northern Mindanao. This demonstrates a brazen disrespect for human rights and international humanitarian law by the AFP,” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson.
The bombings from drones, fighter jets, and firing of howitzers at a rebel camp and its surrounding area took place during a two-day unilateral ceasefire declared by the New People’s Army (NPA). Instead of reciprocating the ceasefire, the AFP launched military offensives, brazenly violating the rules of engagement. In the Bukidnon incident, the AFP used multiple 250-pound bombs and artillery rounds made by Israeli company Soltam Systems. 10 people were reportedly killed during the bombardment, and the explosions caused environmental destruction and terror in villages surrounding the area.
In an earlier incident, on December 17, 2023, the 59th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, augmented by Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force troopers, killed two civilians and five NPA in an attack against an NPA encampment in Batangas, Southern Tagalog. Human rights workers documented the desecration of the bodies of the seven, including signs of rape. Relatives could hardly identify the bodies. The two civilians, Pretty Sheine Anacta, 19, and Rose Jane Agda, 30, were said to be visiting a relative in the NPA.
Murphy continued, “Through its disproportionate use of force and terrorizing of local farmers during the military offensives, the AFP violated international humanitarian law (IHL) and showed blatant disregard for the well-being of the people. This violation of the rules of war is especially shocking given the recent indication of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), which represents 18 revolutionary organizations including the NPA.”
These recent AFP offensives are part of a series of bombings and other attacks on alleged NPA members in civilian areas. As reported by human rights alliance Karapatan, over 22,000 people across the Philippines were affected by AFP bombings between July 2022 and November 2023. These violent bombardments and military action in the countryside are part of the GRP’s so-called “counter-insurgency” strategy, which utilizes tactics including forced evacuation; hamleting and forcible reconcentration of civilian communities; forced “surrendering” of civilians; arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearances; torture; and extrajudicial killings.
“In the face of such brutality from the AFP in its war against the NPA, ICHRP reiterates its support to the Filipino people’s call for a genuine solution to the armed conflict by addressing the roots including widespread poverty, lack of jobs and industry, and the uneven distribution of land,” continued Murphy. “We have expressed support to the November 2023 joint statement of the GRP and NDFP indicating their desire to resume peace talks, providing a path towards just and lasting peace in the country.
“ICHRP calls on both parties to respect previous agreements such as the Hague Joint Declaration, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), which guarantees the safety of peace negotiators, consultants, staff and all those who are involved in the peace negotiations.”
Further comment: Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson, +61418312301, chairperson@ichrp.net
ICHRP: Resume Peace Talks, Resolve the Roots of the Armed Conflict!
Press Release
December 16, 2023
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) joins the Filipino people in amplifying the call for the resumption of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
“The Oslo Communique signed last November 23 is a positive step towards resumption of the peace process. It is a fitting development because today marks one year since the passing of former NDFP Chief Political Consultant Professor Jose Maria Sison, who dreamt of a just and lasting peace for his motherland. He played a key role in peace negotiations between the NDFP and GRP through several decades,” said ICHRP Global Chairperson Peter Murphy.
Jose Maria “Ka Joma” Sison’s contributions to the Filipino people’s struggle for a just and genuine peace in the Philippines cannot be overstated. As Chief Political Consultant of the NDFP, he helped forge several agreements between the two parties, such as the The Hague Joint Declaration in 1992 that outlined the objective, the framework, and the agenda of the peace negotiations; the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) in 1995; and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) in 1998, among others.
The approval of CARHRIHL by the principals of the two Parties in 1998 was very significant. The Parties agreed to respect human rights and to be bound by the principles of international humanitarian law while they are at war. The CARHRIHL is one of the four substantive agenda items of the peace talks.
In 2016, both Parties agreed to tackle the specifics of the draft agreement on the second agenda, socio-economic reforms.
The provisions of the draft Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) comprise the bulk of the peace agenda, since socio-economic reforms in Philippine society are central to resolving the roots of the armed conflict – poverty, joblessness, and landlessness. The Negotiating Panels reported in 2017 that they were almost done and very eager to sign the CASER.
“It is unfortunate that former President Duterte terminated the peace talks through Proclamation 360, just when major progress was being made in 2017. The passage of CASER is pivotal in the upcoming rounds of peace negotiations in 2024, if both parties want to advance to the next peace agenda item, political and constitutional reforms,” added Murphy.
“While we are hopeful that the peace negotiations in 2024 will bear fruit, ICHRP will continue to expose and oppose the continuing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law happening in the Philippines. We want to let President Marcos Jr. know that the international community is closely watching his government,” concluded Murphy.
Further comment: Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson, +61418312301
chairperson@ichrp.net
ICHRP Supports Nationwide Strike Against Jeepney Phaseout
Press Release
December 14, 2023
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) stands in solidarity with jeepney drivers and operators who are conducting a nationwide strike on December 14-15 in the Philippines. “This strike follows the November 20-22 nationwide jeepney drivers’ strike, which was 90 per cent effective, but the Marcos Jr. government isn’t listening yet,” said Peter Murphy, ICHRP Global Council Chairperson.
The strike is led by PISTON (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Unity of Association of Drivers and Operators Nationwide), a national federation of workers in public transportation. They are protesting the violation by the Philippine government of their economic, social and cultural rights. The phaseout puts their livelihood at stake, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands families.
“The Philippine government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is a PUV phaseout disguised as modernization. It serves not the interests of small jeepney drivers and operators, but of big corporations who will take over the Philippine public transportation sector,” said Murphy. “Currently jeepneys are produced in the Philippines using imported second-hand engines. ‘Modern’ jeepneys will be fully imported.”
The Philippine government Department of Transportation (DOTr) launched the PUVMP in 2017. It plans to replace traditional jeepneys which are 15 years old or older with modern, imported jeepneys which cost around Php 2.5 – 2.8 million (US$44,800 – 50,200) per unit. It is more than triple the price of ordinary jeepneys, which is around Php 600,000 to 800,000 (US$10,700 – 14,300).
The exorbitant amount needed to purchase a single modern jeepney is clearly unaffordable for the average jeepney driver who earns a meager P500 (US$8.92) daily income, which is reduced further by skyrocketing diesel prices in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the minimum fare is expected to increase up to P25 (US$0.45), almost double its current amount of P13 (US$0.23).
Thousands of jeepney drivers and operators decry the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB)’s December 31 deadline for application for franchise consolidation. Under franchise consolidation, the LTFRB will implement its so-called “one franchise, one route, one operator” scheme. Only corporations and cooperatives which own a minimum of 15 modern jeepney units will be allowed to operate a franchise. Drivers and operators who do not apply for consolidation will not be allowed to ply the roads starting January 1, 2024.
“Only big corporations and capitalists stand to benefit from this sham modernization program. It is an affront to the social and economic rights not only of the hundreds of thousands of drivers and operators, but also to the millions of Filipino commuters who rely every day on affordable transportation provided by jeepney drivers nationwide,” continued Murphy.
“The right to work and to freely choose one’s work for a living is enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESR) of the United Nations. The Marcos Jr. government must be reminded that the Philippines is a signatory to this treaty.”
“The corporate capture of the Philippine public transportation sector is evident of the continued adherence to neoliberal policies by Marcos Jr. ICHRP supports the call of drivers and operators to junk the PUVMP, and instead push for a genuinely pro-people modernization program, by supporting the development of the local jeepney manufacturing industry,” concluded Murphy.
Further comment: Peter Murphy, ICHRP Chairperson, +61418312301
chairperson@ichrp.net