Church groups light candles during an activity on April 24 to show support for the resumption of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and communist rebels. (Photo by Mark Saludes)
Ongoing "back-channel" talks between Philippine government negotiators and communist rebels hang in the balance after security forces nabbed a rebel leader being treated for wounds in a hospital in Mindanao, a rebel group said.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) warned that if any harm came to guerrilla leader Elizalde Canete, "it could have adverse consequences on efforts to resume peace negotiations."
Fidel Agcaoili, chairman of the rebel peace panel, said Canete's arrest early this month could "jeopardize" moves for the resumption of the peace talks, which he said already reached an "advanced stage."
The government ended the talks in November last year amid accusations by Manila of rebel violence.
The country's Catholic and Protestant bishops have challenged both sides "to show honest gestures that will ensure the success of the peace negotiations." The prelates demanded "greater commitment ... to the people's aspirations for a just and lasting peace."
In a statement released on May 20, the church leaders under the Ecumenical Bishops' Forum welcomed the prospect of the resumption of talks, calling it "a glimmer of hope" after the termination of the negotiations last year.
The prelates urged the government to release rebel peace consultants "as a matter of compliance with previously-signed agreements." They also called on the government to release political prisoners detained on "fabricated criminal charges."
"The government must likewise stop criminalizing the legitimate struggles of the people by calling them terrorist acts," said the bishops, referring to government pronouncements tagging suspected rebels as terrorists.
In December, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a proclamation declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People's Army, terrorist organizations.
In February, the Justice Department sought a court declaration that the two organizations and about 600 individuals, including several leaders of legal organizations as terrorists.
However in April, both the government and rebel panels revealed that formal peace negotiations between the two sides would most likely recommence in June.
Earlier last month, Duterte ordered his presidential adviser on the peace process to work toward the resumption of talks with specific instructions to forge a ceasefire agreement.
"I want to pursue the peace talks with you," said the president. "But along the way, there will be many obstructions … but you must understand that it won't be easy for us," he added.
However, Duterte said if peace talks were to resume there must be a ceasefire and the rebels have to stop collecting "revolutionary taxes."
For its part, the NDFP said its peace consultants should be free to conduct consultations in the provinces.
Rebel peace adviser Luis Jalandoni said many of NDFP's peace consultants are in hiding because of the government's "terrorist" list.
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform said the scheduled negotiations next month should become "a venue for a dialogue of life" that will address the root cause of the conflict.
The prelate from the southern Philippines said the talks should "not just end fighting but provide long term solutions to problems that spur people to revolt."
Mark Saludes contributed to this report.
