By Janvic Mateo
MANILA, Philippines - The deteriorating climate of the negotiations between the government and the communist rebels may result in the increase of human rights violations on the ground, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) warned.
CHR chairman Chito Gascon called on negotiating panels to find ways to return to the peace table following the government’s declaration of an all-out war against the New People’s Army (NPA).
“The CHR supports all efforts that contribute to establishing peace settlements between the government and rebel groups. A sustained peace is grounded upon human rights and respect for human rights contributes to sustaining peace,” Gascon said.
“We hope the parties to the negotiations might find all ways and means to return in good faith to the peace table as we are concerned that a deteriorating of the climate for negotiations could possibly result in increase of violations of human rights on the ground, particularly in areas of high concentration of rebel activity,” he added.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star