MERGED: CPP-NPA-NDF Discussions (Issues, Updates, etc.)

[Stoner]

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A call for unity and reconcialiation

By CPT. CROMWELL I. DANGANAN, (INF) PA

Compassion, instead of persecution, is what the recently captured NPA Amazon Sunshine Eulalio has been receiving from the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. No less than a free hospitalization at the Command’s Camp Lukban Station Hospital (CLSH) has been provided. Since her “rescue� by elements of the 19th Infantry Battalion during an encounter in Albuera, Leyte from the hands of the Communist Terrorists who are harassing and extorting from the civilian populace in the area, where Sunshine has been wounded, care and sympathy has been given to her in the form of free hospitalization initially in Ormoc City hospital then to the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City and to her new “home�, here in Camp Lukban Station Hospital.

Her “rescue� is credited to the unflinching observance of the 8ID troops of the Rules of Engagement and International Humanitarian Law governing armed conflict, where wounded personnel, including the people’s enemy, should be given care and compassion, as they are also human beings, with a family also waiting for them. She has been particularly abandoned in vain of her former comrades who have left her “Naalala ko pa and sabi ng mga kasamahan ko noon sa kilusan, hindi kami mag iiwanan, noong na wounded ako sa engkwentro at nahospital, wala man lang ni isang dumamay at tumulong sa akin na kasama sa kilusan, mabuti na lamang at mababait at disiplinado ang mga sundalong nagligtas sa akin. Tunay na walang kinabukasan sa kilusan�, Sunshine laments.

From her confinement in CLSH last February 2, 2005, she went a series of surgical operations. Four blood donors from among the soldier students of the 8th Division Training Unit donated their blood for her sake as she has to undergo a major application of External Fixator under General Anesthesia operation on her right arm as a result of her wound inflicted during the encounter with NPA Terrorists last January 29, 2005.

Camp Lukban Station Hospital initially caters to the military personnel and their dependents but has been providing health care to Sunshine during her pre-operations phase and later on recuperation. Despite limited Command resources, substantial amount has been set aside to cover for her medicines and other expenses while she is on the road to recovery.

Thus, Sunshine’s mother, Cristita P. Eulalio, has been very vocal and proud of the 8ID’s support to Sunshine’s hospitalization that she became emotional when asked of what she thinks of her daughter’s present condition. “Nagpapasalamat kami ng marami sa Philippine Army sa pagbibigay ng bagong buhay saaking anak gayundin sa lahat ng mga tulong na naibigay nila sa aming pamilya. Tunay na mababait at disiplinado ang mga sundalo na totoong pinahahalagahan ang buhay ng mga kapwa natin Pilipino.�

After Sunshine’s recuperation, she shall be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development where she will be given a chance to recover her “lost life� while with the Communist movement. Skills training would most probably be provided to her, enough for her to live a normal and happy way of life with her family.

Brig. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos, the 8ID’s General Officer-in-Charge, in his statement said, “Now is the time to heal and the time to unite, we are calling on our lost fellow Filipinos who have been deceived into believing their futile cause to open their minds and let the spirit of reconciliation and unity be instilled in their hearts and minds as the only solution to our nation’s problems cannot be achieved through force of arms or revolution, but rather by the collective efforts of not only the government agencies but also the non-government entities and most importantly the civilian populace, in our quest for a lasting peace and prosperity for our country. That is the hope of every freedom loving Filipino.�

[dairyman]

this an old story.. sad to say it's happening all over the world... al-qaeda and other terrosrist groups are doing it, they train children to be soldiers in camps where they suppose to be in schools, they are learning how kill people where they suppose to learn the value of life, and the list goes on...

it's just like joining gangs and fraternities where youngsters are very vulnerable in this kind of activities..

[PissKhanXXX]

they always have! with the unlimited human resources that they have, they would take in anyone just to have the number! being the unlawful mob that they are, what would stop them from respecting human rights?

[jay_007]

maybe... coz of what our situation now... ECONOMIC SCARCITY!!!!!

[shoeless_rebel]

insurgents are desperate right now becuase most of the adilts today are educated and knows all the flaws of communism, that is why they are recruiting minors that are easily convinced by the fairy tales told by the reds to them.

OT: i just have to disagree... i'm no commie and i hate CPP-NPA. but communism has no flaws. it's actually too perfect for us humans... marx is way ahead (light years) ahead of his time...

[PissKhanXXX]

i hope you realise that perfection could never come out of imperfection.

[luvmebabhe!]

they always have. i think it runs in the blood. being a rebel without a cause, i mean, if u understand. these young ones were brought up by illegally armed men & made to believe that the world other than theirs is a sick one, that the government is unfair & that bloodshed is the only option. why dont we just pray for these people...

[gareb]

stick to the topic.

please read;

Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
Convention on the Rights of the Child

[pnoize]

finally someone posted a link on CARHIL.

OT: gareb, you should've attended that SALIDA event of SineBuano. We had a progressive film by Southern Tagalog Exposure.

[gareb]

additional readings

The Parties to the conflict shall take all feasible measures in order that children who have not attained the age of fifteen years do not take a direct part in hostilities and, in particular, they shall refrain from recruiting them into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of fifteen years but who have not attained the age of eighteen years the Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to give priority to those who are oldest.

Children shall be provided with the care and aid they require, and in particular:
(a) they shall receive an education, including religious and moral education, in keeping with the wishes of their parents, or in the absence of parents, of those responsible for their care;
(b) all appropriate steps shall be taken to facilitate the reunion of families temporarily separated;
(c) children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities;
(d) the special protection provided by this Article to children who have not attained the age of fifteen years shall remain applicable to them if they take a direct part in hostilities despite the provisions of subparagraph (c) and are captured;
(e) measures shall be taken, if necessary, and whenever possible with the consent of their parents or persons who by law or custom are primarily responsible for their care, to remove children temporarily from the area in which hostilities are taking place to a safer area within the country and ensure that they are accompanied by persons responsible for their safety and well-being.

Protocol I
Protocol II
International Humanitarian Law

pnoize2k4: i have a few friends from ST Exposure. i also have some copies of their works. i was just too unfortunate at not being able to attend the festival.