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Stay neutral, rebels warn Church

Bishops being used like 'chess pieces' in counterinsurgency drive, communists say
Stay neutral, rebels warn Church
Ednar Dayanghirang, a representative of the government panel
Published: July 18, 2011 09:37 AM GMT
Updated: July 18, 2011 09:37 AM GMT

Communist rebels today warned Catholic bishops in Samar province against supporting the military’s latest campaign against them. The National Democratic Front (NDF) say the military is exploiting the clergy “like chess pieces.” The government’s new counter-insurgency effort, the military says, is aimed at focusing on building communities instead of hunting rebels. “It is reprehensible for [the military] to exploit bishops of the Catholic Church, a moral institution, to push for an immoral, unjust and all-out war,” said Father Santiago Salas, an NDF spokesman. He said the military has been claiming it has the “cooperation” of the Church, local officials and community leaders to show “an illusion of public support” for the anti-insurgency plan. Father Salas urged the Church and public to support the peace process between the government and the NDF. “The Catholic Church should be wary and discerning because the military's promotion of the new campaign is all talk and no justice,” he said. “It offers nothing but lip service to human rights groups while violations continue and previous ones remain unresolved,” Father Salas added. The government’s peace panel, meanwhile, said it is ready to submit a draft proposal on socio-economic reforms to the NDF when both sides meet on August 29 in Norway. There are four substantive elements to the talks: human rights and international humanitarian law, socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, and an end to hostilities and the disposition of forces. The NDF considers socio-economic reforms crucial to the 24-year-old peace process as this will address the roots of the 42-year-old Communist insurgency. “This will help us deal with the causes of under-development in the country. Why do people take up arms? Why are people poor?” said Fidel Agcaoili, vice-chairman of the NDF panel. He said issues such as land reform; indigenous people’s rights to self-determination; gender equality; and poverty are among the issues that will be raised during the talks.

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