At the root of armed conflict is poverty

As Christians all over the world celebrate the advent of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace who came so that all may have abundant life (John 10:10), the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), the largest ecumenical formation of church leaders in the country, reiterates our call for the resumption of the formal peace talks between the government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in accordance with their prior bilateral agreements.

The formal talks between the two sides have not resumed since February. We call on both sides to find remedies to the obstacles they face in pursuing the peace negotiations. Both sides should “take heart and not erode the bridges built through the years.” (Transcend the Present Impasse and Continue to Bridge the Peace: Resume the Formal Talks Now, PEPP Statement, Oct. 20, 2011) We also anticipate the traditional declaration by both GPH and NDFP of a unilateral ceasefire in observance of the Christmas season.

The resumption of the formal talks is all the more urgent for the Filipino people in light of the exponentially rising poverty and the increasingly inequitable distribution of wealth in the country. These problems, which both parties agree must be resolved, are at the root of the armed conflict and are due to be taken up in the second substantive agenda of the talks which is social and economic reforms. The Filipino people will greatly benefit if the two parties arrive at agreements on fundamental reforms that will address these problems and thereby lead to an equitable and sustainable peace for all.

Last Dec. 10 the whole world commemorated the 63rd year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). As we commemorated peace and human rights, we called on both parties to uphold the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). In relation to this, there are currently hundreds of political prisoners languishing in jails all over the country. In accordance with Article 6 of the agreement, we call on the government to “abide by its doctrine laid down in People vs. Hernandez (99 Phil. 515, July 18, 1956), as further elaborated in People vs. Geronimo (100 Phil. 90 Oct. 13, 1956), and shall forthwith review the cases of all prisoners or detainees who have been charged, detained or convicted contrary to this doctrine, and shall immediately release them.” A number of these political prisoners include the detained consultants of the NDFP, so this can also pave the way for the immediate resumption of the formal peace talks. This will be an act of justice and magnanimity and is fully in line with the spirit of Christmas.

With our faith, we resolve and pray to continue supporting the peace negotiations as part of our people’s quest for a just and

enduring peace.

—ARCHBISHOP ANTONIO J. LEDESMA, SJ, DD

and SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES,

co-chairpersons; BISHOP DEOGRACIAS S. IÑIGUEZ JR., DD, head, PEPP secretariat, Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform pepp_churchleaders@

hotmail.com