Dear Friends,

    We are forwarding to you this joint statement issued by the co-chairs of the Joint Monitoring Committee. KARAPATAN views this as a positive step towards the attainment of peace based on justice.

In Solidarity,
KARAPATAN-National Office
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
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STATEMENT BY THE JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE
Formed To Monitor the Implementation of theComprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL)
April 15, 2004

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines–Monitoring Committee (GRP-MC) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Monitoring Committee (NDFP-MC) today formally convened the Joint Secretariat of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) compound in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.

The formation, operationalization and organizational meeting of the JMC is one of the important breakthroughs of the first two rounds of formal talks between the GRP and the NDFP held in Oslo, Norway on February 10-14, 2004 and March 30-April 2, 2004. Its formation is in accordance with the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which became effective on August 7, 1998.

The JMC held a meeting to discuss the setting up of an office, budget, personnel, office procedures and other matters with respect to its
Joint Secretariat as well as the date and venue of the next JMC meeting.

The official convening of their respective nominees to the JMC Joint Secretariat completes the process for the operation of Part V of the
CARHRIHL. The JMC, the interim body to monitor the implementation and achieve the purposes of the CARHRIHL and the investigation of any reported violations thereof, is in place.

The JMC Joint Secretariat shall receive complaints and reports of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law. It
will be composed of five respective nominees each by the GRP and the NDFP.

The Joint Monitoring Committee is co-chaired by Prof. Carlos P. Medina Jr. for the GRP and Fidel V. Agcaoili for the NDFP. Other Members of the JMC include Atty. Edgardo B. Gayos and Atty. Robert L. Larga for the GRP and Coni K. Ledesma and Danilo F. Borjal for the NDFP. Sitting as NDFP-nominated independent Observers to the JMC are Supreme Bishop Tomas A. Millamena and Marie Hilao-Enriquez. The two GRP-nominated independent Observers are Mercedes Contreras Danenberg and Mary Aileen Bacalso.

The JMC Joint Secretariat is composed of Panel Executive Director Ma. Carla Munsayac-Villarta, Fe A. Oaing, Linda Cañete, Sandra Garcia, and Atty. Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan-Gonzaga as independent-nominees by the GRP, and legal consultant Atty. Edre U. Olalia, Marissa P. Dumanjug-Palo, Irein M. Cuasay, Rosie M. Tumbagahon and Levie C. Ebio as independent-nominees by the NDFP.

His Excellency Ambassador Paul Moe of the Royal Norwegian Government which is acting as a Third Party Facilitator to the ongoing peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP graced the occasion.

CARLOS P. MEDINA JR.
FIDEL V. AGCAOILI
Chairperson, GRP-MC
Chairperson, NDFP-MC

KARAPATAN
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
#43 Masikap St., Brgy. Pinyahan,
Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
telefax: (632) 928 6078 and (632) 435 4146
email address: [email protected]
[email protected]
website: www.karapatan.org