Prospects for peace with Reds improve

From the Manila Standard Today (Dec 18): Prospects for peace with Reds improve

PRESIDENTIAL peace adviser Teresita Deles said Wednesday there could be “a surprise development” in the peace talks between the government and communist rebels next month, but declined to offer any details.

“We are at what you’d call an impasse right now, but our goal has always been to revive the formal negotiations,” she said.

Deles said many concerned stakeholders outside of the government and communist negotiating panels have been doing backchannel talks.

“Some people would say that one year and a half is such a short time to accomplish anything significant. But I say one year and a half is already a long time that we will not waste,” she added.

Earlier this week, President Benigno Aquino III approved a month-long ceasefire with the communist New People’s Army, covering Christmas, New Year, and the visit of Pope Francis in January.

The suspension of offensive military operations and of offensive police operations will begin on Dec. 19 (from midnight of 18th) and end on Jan. 19, 2015.

Deles said the extended Christmas ceasefire will allow unhampered relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas hit by calamities such as super typhoon Yolanda and typhoon Ruby that are in the combat zone.

Deles said the unilateral ceasefire “sets the tone” for the much-anticipated papal visit in January.

“With the silencing of guns, our preparations for and celebration of Pope Francis’ visit may be carried out with undistracted prayers and deep hope for abundant blessings to be showered on our people,” Deles added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) earlier issued a statement saying that there will be no threats against the Pope from their end.

“Together with the rest of the Filipino people, the CPP, the NPA and all revolutionary forces look forward to Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. Through his visit, the Filipino people hope to draw attention to the outstanding problems of poverty, exploitation of workers, land monopolies and feudal oppression, the wide gap between the super-rich ruling elite and the rest of the toiling people, human rights violations and the widespread use of state terror against the people,” the communist statement said.

The CPP has declared its own ceasefire over the Christmas season and for the duration of the Pope’s visit.

“While this ceasefire declaration is in effect, all units of the NPA and the people’s militia shall remain in active defense mode. All commanders, Red fighters and militia should remain ever vigilant and alert against the treacherous encroachment of operating military troops and police personnel,” the CPP said.

“All units of the NPA and people’s militia must always be prepared to take the option of engaging the aggressive units of the enemy in self-defense in order to prevent them from committing acts of brutality and repression with impunity,” it added.

The ceasefire also covers the CPP’s founding anniversary on Dec. 26.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said the ceasefire would be a welcome respite for the soldiers, who also want a Christmas vacation.

“What we are hoping for is that this will be the prelude to a more lasting peace. We just hope that those who are in the other side will take advantage of this as an opportunity to start a more peaceful way of life instead of embracing violence,” he added.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/12/18/prospects-for-peace-with-reds-improve/