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Philippine rebels ready for 'all-out war'

Government, insurgents posture as various groups urge return to negotiating table
Philippine rebels ready for 'all-out war'

Communist New Peoples Army rebels stand in formation in the hinterlands of Misamis Oriental province during the release of a captured government soldier in 2015. (Photo by Froilan Gallardo)

 

Published: February 09, 2017 09:36 AM GMT
Updated: February 09, 2017 09:37 AM GMT

Philippine communist rebels declared that they are "ready to face" the government's declaration of an "all-out war" after peace negotiations aimed at ending almost five decades of insurgency broke down last week.

The communist-led National Democratic Front, which has been negotiating peace on behalf of the rebels, refused to acknowledge receipt of a government notice terminating an immunity agreement for negotiators.

A statement released by the rebel group on Feb. 9 said it "cannot be a party to an unjust, unreasonable and improper" move.

Fidel Agcaoili, rebel chief negotiator, said terminating the Joint Agreement on Immunity and Safety Guarantees would "mean ending formal negotiations as well."

The agreement protects negotiators, consultants, staff, and security personnel of both parties from surveillance, arrest and prosecution for the duration of the talks.

"There is no fair and just reason for the [Philippine government] to terminate the peace negotiations less than two weeks after the two negotiating panels had successfully concluded their third round of talks," said the rebel leader.

On Feb. 8, the Philippine government sent a letter of termination of the agreement through government peace adviser Jesus Dureza.

The rebels said ending the talks put to waste the "significant advances" achieved during the three rounds of negotiations with the government since last year.

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines said that by terminating the talks, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte "wasted the achievements attained in peace talks over the past few months."

The rebel group accused Duterte of terminating the talks "when he could no longer use it to compel the [guerrillas] to a prolonged ceasefire that has left the people defenseless against military operations."

The president declared the termination of talks after the rebels announced on Feb. 1 that they were lifting their unilateral ceasefire.

While dismissing the government declaration of an "all-out war" as "an empty stunt," the rebels called on the people to be prepared for a "spree of human rights abuses against the people and gross violations of civil liberties."

 

Calls for peace

Various groups have called on both the government and the rebels to return to the negotiating table following Duterte's pronouncement suspending the peace talks.

"As peace advocates, we urge both parties that hopeful and sober thinking must guide their actions: scuttling the peace talks would bring monumental disappointment for those striving to build a just and enduring peace in our land," read a statement from the Citizens Alliance for Just Peace.

The ecumenical church group said the "voice of every peace-loving Filipino is greatly needed at this time to convey our collective hope for the peace talks to prosper toward the attainment of a just and lasting peace."

The newly-formed peace advocate alliance Kapayapaan said that terminating the talks "will merely intensify the fighting without addressing the roots of the armed conflict."

The group issued an appeal to Duterte on Feb. 9 "not to leave the negotiating table and to continue talking peace" with the rebels. "If there is one compelling reason to stay the course of peace, it should be peace itself," said the group.

Human rights group Karapatan warned that the government's declaration of an "all-out war" against the rebels would only result in abuses against communities and activists.

"Decades of armed rebellion in the Philippines prove that state violence and terrorist attacks as response to people's resistance will only fire up the people's fight," said Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of Karapatan.

She said attacks against the people "are bound to continue, or even escalate, with the declaration of an all-out war." In January alone, at least four activists were killed by security forces, said Palabay.

 

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