To the Editor:

RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP) AND THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES (NDFP) TO RESUME THE FORMAL PEACE TALKS

WHEREAS, we, leaders of Churches (bishops, priests, pastors, nuns, deacons, deaconesses, and church workers of the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Episcopal Church in the Philippines, United Church of Christ in the Philippines and United Methodist Church), are gathered by the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) on April 13-14, 2005 at Muntinglupa City to study the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

WHEREAS, having been educated on the fundamental framework and basic provisions of CARHRIHL and taking into consideration the message of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John that "The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness" (Jn 10:10), we affirm that abundant life is essentially a realization of genuine and lasting peace based on justice.

WHEREAS, we declare that killings, intimidations, harassments, abductions, arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions and involuntary disappearances of the leaders of the progressive organizations, party lists and even church people in our country, as they are called by the military as "enemy of the state", are gross violations of CARHRIHL perpetrated by the Arroyo government. We condemn the twisting of truth, concealing of facts and fabrications of lies used by the government if only for them to perpetuate themselves in power. It is ridiculous for the government to call for the people to make a "sacrifice" for a "strong republic" when if fact President Arroyo has launched an open and militarist attack against the people.

WHEREAS, these killings happened when the peace talks between the GRP and NDFP was suspended. The obligations of the GRP to work on the issues on "terrorist listing" of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) and of Professor Jose Maria Sison; release of political prisoners; and, indemnification of the victims of human rights violations during the deposed president Ferdinand Marcos have yet to be fulfilled by GRP as provided in the Joint Oslo Statements of the GRP and NDFP.

WHEREAS, we are dismayed that the political, civil and human rights of the people are trampled upon by the Arroyo government as seen in the implementation in a "no permit, no rally" policy, in the support of the US "war on terror", in reviving the Anti-Terrorism Bill and in the implementation of the National ID system in the barangays and municipalities nationwide. The listing of the Philippines Churches, ecumenical organizations and progressive organizations as "enemy of the state" is tantamount to ordering the military, police and para-military units to attack the leaders and members of these organizations and institutions without observing the rules of law and due process. This climate of political repression is a proof that there is an undeclared Martial Law in the Philippines.

WHEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ECUMENICAL BISHOPS FORUM (EBF) URGE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES (GRP) AND THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES (NDFP) TO RESUME THE FORMAL PEACE TALKS THE SOONEST POSSIBLE so that the CARHRIHL will be further strengthened and other substantive agenda will be thoroughly discussed, approved and subsequently implemented.

Issued on this 14th day of April 2005.

Sgd. BISHOP JULIO LABAYEN,OCD
Sgd. BISHOP ROMAN TIPLES
Sgd. BISHOP ELMER BOLOCON
Sgd. BISHOP ERME CAMBA
Sgd. BISHOP EMER FOJA
Sgd. REV. ALBERT DY
Sgd. REV. DANTE CAMINGAWAN
Sgd. REV. ULYSSES DIZON
Sgd. REV. YSMAEL CATAAG
Sgd. REV. MARLINO SAMONTE
Sgd. REV. TESSIE VERTUCIO
Sgd. REV. HOMER DISTAJO
Sgd. PTR. JOSUE JIMENEZ
Sgd. PTR. NOMAD TACARDON
Sgd. PTR. LEAH MENDOZA
Sgd. DAPHNE DUMADARA
Sgd. VICENTE TOCA III
Sgd. BENNY MENDOZA
Sgd. REV. DIONITO CABILLAS
Sgd. REV. REX B. REYES
Sgd. REV. CORAZON ABUGAN
Sgd. SR. ROSARIO BATTUNG,RGS
Sgd. SR. CHIT VALERIO, RVM
Sgd. OFELIA A. CANTOR

UPHOLD CARHRIHL, STOP THE KILLINGS

We, leaders of Churches (bishops, priests, pastors, nuns, deacons, deaconesses, and church workers of the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Episcopal Church in the Philippines, United Church of Christ in the Philippines and United Methodist Church), are gathered by the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) on April 13-14, 2005 at Muntinglupa City to study the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

Having been educated on the fundamental framework and basic provisions of CARHRIHL and taking into consideration the message of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John that "The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness" (Jn 10:10), we affirm that abundant life is essentially a realization of genuine and lasting peace based on justice.

We declare that killings, intimidations, harassments, abductions, arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions and involuntary disappearances of the leaders of the progressive organizations, party lists and even church people in our country, as they are called by the military as "enemy of the state", are gross violations of CARHRIHL perpetrated by the Arroyo government. We condemn the twisting of truth, concealing of facts and fabrications of lies used by the government if only for them to perpetuate themselves in power. It is ridiculous for the government to call for the people to make a "sacrifice" for a "strong republic" when if fact President Arroyo has launched an open and militarist attack against the people.

These killings happened when the peace talks between the GRP and NDFP was suspended. The obligations of the GRP to work on the issues on "terrorist listing" of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA) and of Professor Jose Maria Sison; release of political prisoners; and, indemnification of the victims of human rights violations during the deposed president Ferdinand Marcos have yet to be fulfilled by GRP as provided in the Joint Oslo Statements of the GRP and NDFP.

We are dismayed that the political, civil and human rights of the people are trampled upon by the Arroyo government as seen in the implementation in a "no permit, no rally" policy, in the support of the US "war on terror", in reviving the Anti-Terrorism Bill and in the implementation of the National ID system in the barangays and municipalities nationwide. The listing of the Philippines Churches, ecumenical organizations and progressive organizations as "enemy of the state" is tantamount to ordering the military, police and para-military units to attack the leaders and members of these organizations and institutions without observing the rules of law and due process. This climate of political repression is a proof that there is an undeclared Martial Law in the Philippines.

We, therefore, call on President Golria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop the killings and other forms of political repression. These are un-Christian and immoral. Any policy that suppresses the fundamental freedom of the people is opposed to the will of God.

We urge the negotiating panels of the GRP and NDFP to return to the negotiating table and resume the formal peace talks so that the CARHRIHL will be further strengthened and other substantive agenda will be thoroughly discussed, approved and subsequently implemented.

We call also on our people to stand firm and not to be cowed by this alarming trend of political persecution. The saying goes, "Those who give light must endure burning". We must consolidate our ranks and say, "Never again to Martial Law". With courage and strength which come from God, we will carry on our struggle for genuine and lasting peace.

Issued on this 14th day of April 2005.

Sgd.BISHOP JULIO LABAYEN,OCD
Sgd.BISHOP ROMAN TIPLES
Sgd.BISHOP ELMER BOLOCON
Sgd.BISHOP ERME CAMBA
Sgd.BISHOP EMER FOJA
Sgd. REV. ALBERT DY
Sgd.REV. DANTE CAMINGAWAN
Sgd. REV. ULYSSES DIZON
Sgd. REV. YSMAEL CATAAG
Sgd. REV. MARLINO SAMONTE
Sgd. REV. TESSIE VERTUCIO
Sgd. REV. HOMER DISTAJO
Sgd. PTR. JOSUE JIMENEZ
Sgd. PTR. NOMAD TACARDON
Sgd. PTR. LEAH MENDOZA
Sgd. DAPHNE DUMADARA
Sgd. VICENTE TOCA III
Sgd. BENNY MENDOZA
Sgd. REV. DIONITO CABILLAS
Sgd. REV. REX B. REYES
Sgd. REV. CORAZON ABUGAN
Sgd. SR. ROSARIO BATTUNG,RGS
Sgd. SR. CHIT VALERIO, RVM
Sgd. OFELIA A. CANTOR