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Government, rebels declare truce as talks start

February 15, 2011

MANILA — The government and communist rebels declared unilateral ceasefires for the entire duration
of the formal peace talks that open on Tuesday in Oslo, Norway.
The government panel for peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front (NDF) said the suspension of offensive military and police operations starts at 12:01 a.m. of February 15 up to 11:59 p.m. of February 21.

The unilateral ceasefire is a confidence building measures of the Philippine government for the resumption of talks, the government panel said on its website.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared Sunday a cessation of hostilities during the entire period of the talks as a gesture of goodwill.
The government panel said the ceasefires cover only deliberate offensive military actions against the New People’s Army.

“It shall not cover defensive military actions aimed at securing and protecting the community, and individual and units of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) against violent attack,” the government said on its website.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) was also reminded that the suspension of police operations do not cover normal law enforcement operations, and “shall be without prejudice to actions aimed at protecting the people and communities as well as PNP troops and installations against NPA attacks” during the ceasefire period.

Earlier, the CPP called on the government to reciprocate its truce declaration for the resumption of peace talks with the government on Tuesday.

“During the recent simultaneous ceasefire, AFP units continued to operate inside the guerrilla fronts and carried out so-called civil-military operations, which are nothing more than psywar and terror operations against civilian communities,” the CPP said.

The military repeatedly denied violations hurled by the insurgents, saying the CPP has actually committed two violations in last year’s Christmas truce — a bloodless encounter in Occidental Mindoro and the ambush of a militiaman in Negros Oriental.

“Important refinements are being made in the ceasefire declaration in order to ensure that unarmed civilians in revolutionary areas are not subjected to fascist abuse by soldiers of the AFP,” the communist party said.

Formal talks resume February 15 to 21 in Oslo, Norway after six years since the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspended negotiations with CPP’s political arm, National Democratic Front.

“This entire ceasefire order is issued on humanitarian grounds and as an act of goodwill in order to allow the commands, units and personnel of the contending armies of the Philippine government and the NDFP to show their support for the peace negotiations,” said the CPP.

Poverty as top issue

As the long-awaited peace talks between the NDF and the Philippine government is set to resume, an organization of different church leaders Monday called on the two camps to put premium on addressing poverty in the country.

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) said the communist rebels and the government should make sure to discuss the matters concerning social and economic reforms.

“Such optimism (towards the peace talks) is borne out of our deep concern over the high rate of poverty, the widening gap between the rich and poor in this country. These issues must be addressed with utmost urgency,” said the PEPP.

The church leaders said they believe that this problem is one of the foremost reasons for the long-standing rebellion of the communists.
“We know too well the connection between these issues and social unrest… The toll is heavy,” noted PEPP, citing genuine land reform, and impunity and violations of human rights as examples.

Last Friday, the government peace panel flew to Oslo, Norway to signal the beginning of the resumption of peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDFP this week.

The PEPP urged the faithful to pray for the success of the peace talks so that peace may finally come to the country, especially in the countryside.

“Even as the two parties buckle up to work, we urge our faith communities in the Philippines to pray without ceasing for just and lasting peace to reign in our country,” it said.

The PEPP is the largest ecumenical formation of church leaders in the country that aimed to promote peace in the country.

Its members include the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, Pax Christi Pilipinas, and the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines.

Release of political prisoners

In other developments, two militant organizations asked President Benigno Aquino III to release all political prisoners in the country, either through amnesty or withdrawal of charges.

“If President Aquino could grant amnesty to mutinous soldiers, why couldn’t he grant the release of all political prisoners who fought injustices and oppression? In the interest of fairness and justice, they should be freed immediately and unconditionally,” Karapatan spokesperson Jigs Clamor said.

There are 344 political prisoners in various detention facilities, 290 of whom were arrested during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term, 27 under the Estrada regime and another 27 since the start of the second Aquino presidency.

These include the 14 Philippine-based consultants for the communists’ negotiations with the Aquino government.

“Their continued detention does not augur well for the peace talks. Some of them continue to face trumped-up charges as well,” said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

Bayan reminded Aquino that in the aftermath of Edsa People Power 1, all political prisoners were freed by his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.

“The first Aquino regime made the correct move of releasing all political prisoners that fought the Marcos dictatorship. Benigno Aquino can do the same and rectify one of most serious violations of human rights done by the past government,” Reyes stressed.

Government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla earlier agreed to work for the speedy release of detained NDFP consultants during the preliminary talks held last month in Norway. (Virgil Lopez/AMN/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/government-rebels-declare-truce-talks-start

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