Joma: Without peace talks, we’ll have to go on fighting

From Malaya Business Insight (Mar 28): Joma: Without peace talks, we’ll have to go on fighting

THE Communist Party of the Philippines yesterday said it will be forced to fight government if President Duterte and Defense Secretary Lorenzana would remain opposed to a resumption of peace negotiations.

The communists have been waging an armed struggle for almost five decades now, and have been holding preliminary and/or formal peace negotiations with past administrations since 1986.

CPP founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison, who has been on self-exile in the Netherlands since the late 80s, said the National Democratic Front of the Philippines is “definitely willing” to return to the negotiating table.

“But if President Duterte and his subordinates Lorenzana and (PNP chief Director General Ronald) dela Rosa are unwilling to negotiate peace, the revolutionary forces and people represented by the NDFP have no choice but to concentrate single-mindedly on fighting those who lust for their blood, death and humiliation,” he said.

Duterte, during a visit to Sulu on Monday, said his administration is determined to finish the 49-year-old insurgency problem. Earlier on Monday, Lorenzana said the communists have not shown sincerity in talking peace and asked what they really want “because we have been talking to them for the past several decades and nothing is happening.”

A call for the resumption of talks was made by at least 60 members of the House of Representatives over the weekend through a resolution, one of whose authors belongs to the Bayan Muna party-list group which is identified with the Left.

Duterte cancelled the negotiations in November last year, after four rounds of formal talks, because of continued attacks by the New People’s Army, the CPP’s armed wing, on government forces even while the talks were ongoing.

Sison said the Duterte administration should not delay the resumption of the peace talks and should stop believing in the government propaganda that they can destroy the communist movement by “sheer violence” and harping that the communists are insincere in the peace process.

Lorenzana yesterday reiterated his opposition to the revival of the peace talks and noted an increase in the number of NPA rebels and supporters who are surrendering to the military.

The military has said at least 4,000 NPA members and supporters have surrendered this year.

Lorenzana also said he shares the pronouncement of presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza that an “enabling environment” is not present to resume the talks, referring to a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

Told he may be accused by the Left of being anti-peace for opposing the resumption of talks, Lorenzana said, “That would be their most probable argument, but we have bent backwards again and again but the result is the same.”

“We cannot repeat what we have been doing and expect a better result this time because, believe me, it will result in the same -- failure. Past experiences are our best guide,” he also said.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said even without the peace negotiations, government efforts to bring peace have been gaining ground, “as evidenced by the surrender of NPA fighters.” He did not say what those efforts are.

He thanked the signatories of the House resolution and also talked about an “enabling environment.”

“Right from the very beginning of his term, the President’s position has always been clear and consistent: He remains committed to peace. However, we find it unfortunate that the communists have become spoilers of peace because of their penchant for double talk and treachery. Their motives are not for attaining sustainable peace but rather to push for their greater control and influence. As before, we reiterate that there must be an enabling environment that must be present for the desired resumption of peace talks,” he said.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/joma-without-peace-talks-we%E2%80%99ll-have-go-fighting