“Children want a just and lasting peace, who doesn’t?” this is the statement of child rights group, Salinlahi in today’s One Billion Rising (OBR) program at Manila City.
Kharlo Manano, secretary-general of Salinlahi said, “To achieve a just and lasting peace, the Duterte government needs to stop its all-out war against the CPP-NPA-NDFP and go back to the peace negotiation. The continuation of the peace talks is very important and will help improve the lives of millions of impoverished Filipino children and their families.”
On Valentine’s Day, Salinlahi joined the ‘Unity Walk’ spearheaded by UNCHAIN CHILDREN (Unity of Child rights advocates Against Inhumane treatment and Neglect of Children) at Bonifacio Shrine to oppose the lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility and joined the march to Liwasang Bonifacio for the OBR 2017 program, calling for the continued negotiations.
“We joined the OBR to make our concerns be heard after President Duterte announced the termination of the peace negotiations with the NDFP and declared an all-out war. We want the peace talks to continue because we believe that one of agreements that will make a big impact on the lives of children and their families is the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-economic Reforms (CASER) that aims to address the roots of the armed conflict that is poverty,” Manano explained.
Salinlahi also denounced the all-out war of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the CPP-NPA-NDFP. “The all-out war would surely wreak havoc among the lives of rural children and their communities. It will only put children’s lives in more peril. It will do no good but jeopardize the safety and welfare of children and their families as we have witnessed in all of the AFP’s counter-insurgency battles wherein civilians are the most targeted. We can always remember the countless lives of children lost and human rights violated by these bloody operations of the AFP,” lamented Manano.
With the OBR 2017 theme “Rise for Jobs, Land, Justice and Peace,” Salinlahi reiterated that the Duterte government should address the root causes of armed conflict and that can be done through going back to the peace negotiation. “Mr. President, we urge you to go back to your previous commitment and aspiration for a lasting peace. We urge you to once again pursue the path to peace based on social justice, for the sake of Filipino children,” Manano said.
“We are enjoining all peace loving Filipinos to rise and act with us, with children, for the continuation of the peace talks and for the future of the next generation,” ended Manano. ###
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