US, EU "Terror Lists" Promote Political Killings In The Philippines – Jalandoni

June 8, 2006



Utrecht, the Netherlands – The Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines took another swipe today at governments maintaining "terrorist lists", saying that the inclusion of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army and NDFP Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison in such lists emboldens the government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to continue on its rampage of extrajudicial killings of civilians, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations.

In a statement distributed Thursday to Philippine and international media organizations, Luis G. Jalandoni, Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel, called on the governments of Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and other governments in the European Union to remove the CPP, the NPA and Prof. Sison from their "terrorist lists". Jalandoni revealed that "the Arroyo government deceived the foreign governments by persuading them to follow the US 'terrorist listing'.

"It should be stressed that there is no law on terrorism in the Philippines", he continued, "the Philippine Supreme Court declared on May 3, 2006 as unconstitutional the reference to 'acts of terrorism' in General Order No. 5 of Arroyo's Proclamation 1017."

Jalandoni also stressed that the "terrorist listing" of the CPP, the NPA and Professor Sison is obstructing the resumption of formal peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP. He pointed out that, "since the 'terrorist listing', the focus of the Arroyo government [in the peace negotiations] has shifted towards pressuring the NDFP to capitulate. It no longer sought to negotiate on the fundamental social, economic and political reforms to address the root causes of the armed conflict."

Also escalating since the "terrorist listing" is the number and frequency of extrajudicial killings and disappearances of unarmed civilians, including journalists, lawyers, priests and pastors, and members and leaders of political organizations opposing the Arroyo government. Jalandoni revealed that since the start of 2006, an average of four political activists have been murdered every week.

Latest statistics reveal that at least 605 political activists have been murdered since Arroyo took power in 2001. Amnesty International and the powerful Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines have both recently expressed deep concern over the escalation of extrajudicial killings in the country. Recently also, Dutch Foreign Minister Dr. Ben Bot declared that he is set to take up the issue of killings of political activists with the Philippine government.

Jalandoni called on foreign governments to reject the deception of the Arroyo regime and remove the CPP, the NPA and Prof. Sison from the "terrorist listing".

"In this way, they can effectively help in the efforts towards the resumption of the formal peace talks directed at addressing the root causes of the armed conflict", he stressed. ### [NDFP-IIO]

Reference:

Ruth de Leon

Executive Director

NDFP International Information Office

Tel.+31-30-2310431

Fax +31-30-2322989