Passes for NDFP to be issued soon

From Malaya Business Insight (Jul 27): Passes for NDFP to be issued soon

PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday said government would soon start issuing safe conduct passes for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) who will directly participate in formal peace talks that will resume in Norway next month.

The President made the statement during his meeting with troops from the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, where he also explained his reasons for declaring a unilateral ceasefire with the communist group.

Duterte said he is still waiting for the group’s reply to his the ceasefire declaration which he announced in his State of the Nation Address last Monday. He has asked the NDFP to “respond accordingly” to the declaration.

NDF panel chairman Luis Jalandoni said Monday his group is prepared to answer with its own unilateral ceasefire and was just waiting for a copy of the government’s declaration.

The CPP yesterday said it will soon reciprocate the ceasefire declaration.

In a statement, the CPP said the truce is a “positive boost” to the peace negotiations scheduled on August 20 to 27 in Oslo.

“We expect that such a declaration will be complemented soon with the earlier declared plan to release all NDFP peace consultants and the rest of the 550 political prisoners,” it said.

It said it was still awaiting the release of the “operational details, schedules and specific orders” of Duterte’s declaration.

“The leadership of the CPP will soon issue its own unilateral ceasefire declaration as a reciprocal act to boost the peace talks,” the CPP added, without saying when the communist truce will be issued.

“In the interim, the CPP orders the New People’s Army to maintain an active defense mode. A more detailed order is set to be issued by the National Operations Command of the NPA,” the CPP also said.

Duterte told troops he does not want more casualties, whether on government or the communist side.

“I plead peace with everybody. I do not want any single loss… so I initiated sa Cabinet, talks about peace and this I have to start with releasing the leaders, not releasing anything, but safe conduct pass for Sison, Misuari,” said Duterte.

He was referring CPP founding chairman and NDF consultant Jose Maria Sison, and former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Nur Misuari who has a pending warrant of arrest for leading the siege in Zamboanga City in 2013.

The President said he wanted all peace initiatives to start or be resolved “towards end of the year.”

Duterte said he is a president who sees peace and not war and he counts on the military to support him and be always ready to guard the integrity of the country and to protect the people.

He said the conflict with the armed groups has gone on for too long. He said he hopes to have peace by the time he retires and steps down from office.

The CPP said the Duterte’s appeal for the NPA to cease ambuscades “can immediately be reciprocated.”

“However, to the people longing for peace, what is more important and urgent is for the operating troops of the AFP to withdraw from the civilian communities and homes, their community schools, barangay halls and health centers,” the CPP said.

It said people are hoping that Duterte would issue a “concomitant order” for the AFP to end its “Oplan Bayanihan war against the civilians.”

“Such attacks against civilians are often justified by the apologists of the US counter-insurgency dogma,” it said.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo Visaya has directed military commanders to observe the ceasefire effective Monday.

He said a suspension of offensive military operations (SOMO) “covers the cessation of all military offensives against the CNN (CPP/NPA/NDF) particularly its armed group, the New People’s Army.”

Visaya said government troops shall also cease “combat maneuvers that may be construed as provocative acts that may be deemed violative of the SOMO.”

Aside from the peace talks with the NDF, Duterte would also pursue the implementation of the peace agreements with the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). He asked the MNLF and MILF to say if they have ties with the Abu Sayyaf group.

He said if they are still connected with the Abu Sayyaf, “I don’t think there will be significant results.”

He said some of the firearms used by the Abu Sayyaf were owned by the MNLF and the MILF.

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