MANILA, Philippines - Iginiit ng Rights group Karapatan ngayong Lunes na ilegal ang pag-aresto kina Benito Tiamzon at Wilma Austria na pinaniniwalaang consultant ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Bukod sa pagiging ilegal, sinabi ng grupo na sinagasaan ng gobyerno ang kanilang usapang pangkapayapaan nang arestuhin ang dalawa.
Anila, hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na may dinakip na consultant ng NDF.
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"The GPH (government of the Philippines) completely ignored previously signed agreements with the NDFP, especially the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG. This is not the first time. In fact, there are 12 NDF peace consultants who are in jail because of trumped up criminal charges. Also, there are 10 NDF consultants who are victims of enforced disappearance," pahayag ni Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.
"The GPH resorts to criminalization of political acts to cover up arrests conducted illegally, especially of those people who have clear ideological and political beliefs," dagdag niya.
Samantala naniniwala naman si Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez na hindi masusugpo ang rebelyon sa bansa sa pagkakaaresto kina Tiamzon at Austria.
"Brandishing the illegal arrest of Tiamson and Austria like a trophy is insubstantial. Pursuing the peace negotiations would be more acceptable to the people who are clamoring for genuine reforms, especially on social-economic spheres. That would be justice," wika niya.
Isang independent observer sa usaping pangkapayaan si Hilao-Enriquez sa pagitan ng GPH at NDFP.
Sinasabing si Tiamzon ang pinuno ng Communist Party of the Philippines at New People's Army, habang si Austria naman ang namamahala sa finance committee ng CPP.
Nasakote ang dalawa nitong kamakalawa sa Aloguinsan, Cebu.