RPeace group organizer writes open letter to NDF

MANILA, 2 Aug. (PIA) -- The organizer of the 12-million-strong nationwide peace campaign initiative has wrote an open letter to the National Democratic Front–Philippines (NDFP) asking the coalition to exert all peaceful means in order to achieve their goals.   

In his open letter emailed to PIA-NCR, Yes For Peace, Bayanihan ng Bayan lead organizer Ernesto Alcanzare wrote:   

“Our Friends, particularly those who share our three guiding principles:   Your non-explanation on the attacks by alleged NPA (New People’s Army) cadres on government forces and the subsequent lifting of the unilateral ceasefire he declared in his first State of the Nation Address are heart wrenching.   Whose rights are you really fighting for?   For almost 47 years, the armed conflicts you have unilaterally waged to fight for the rights of the Filipino people against soldiers mandated to protect the rights of the Filipino people have cost the Filipino people billions of pesos worth of human and material resources. Resources that could have and would be allocated to address the roots of the problems you seek to solve by violently overthrowing the duly elected government!   

In behalf of the 12,256,696 Filipinos who have cumulatively responded to Yes For Peace in its various stages sin we started in the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1988, please allow me to invite you that we shall continue to add to the growing ranks of Filipinos willing to participate in implementing programs and projects stipulated in Peace Agreements.   Simply put, we are pleading you to heed our calls   

1.  Stop the armed conflicts between the government and armed groups;              
2.  Conduct peace talks anywhere here in the Philippines instead of abroad; and              
3.  Bayanihan (collective involvement) and participation in the implementation of Peace Agreements.           

We have empirical evidence to prove our claims and would be very much willing to show these to you at your most convenient schedule. Do you have proof that majority of Filipinos agree to what you have been doing in our name?           You have unilaterally bestowed upon yourselves the right to bear arms in the name of the Filipino people. By whose authority have you done that?           

Have you ever even tried to ask us if we agree with your proposed means – violent overthrow of the government – to ensure that the socio-economic and political changes that the Filipino people have so badly needed for several decades are pursued?           

Whatever your answers may be, are you aware that the integrated implementation existing programs and projects of various government agencies can lead to the social/communal ownership of the means production in poverty-stricken communities that you claim are under you influence?   

Perhaps, we can look into how we can rejuvenate these for the benefit of the Filipino people, particularly in areas that you claim you influence albeit by the barrels of your guns.   In view of the foregoing, can you please help us prove that, “The National Democratic Front is fighting for the individual and collective human right of the Filipino people to live in an era of a just and lasting peace.”   

Corollary to it, please help us disprove the statement, “The CPP-NDF-NPA is fighting only their self-vested right to overthrow a duly-elected government and using national democracy as their front to justify their acts.” Please stop using national democracy as your Front!  

Let the true essence of national democracy prevail – NATIONAL in scope and DEMOCRATIC in nature as it should have been in the first place.   Finally, use ballots instead of bullets to pursue national democratic goals!   Thank you.”   

(RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)