NDF alarmed over violations of ceasefire

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 31): NDF alarmed over violations of ceasefire

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has expressed concern about “persistent reports” from its military arm New People’s Army (NPA) of alleged violations of the Philippine Government’s (GRP) own unilateral ceasefire declaration by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In his letter to GRP Peace Panel Chairman Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, NDF Peace Panel Chairman Fidel Agcaoili complained that “AFP troops continue to make incursions into the territory of the NPA in the guise of civic action and anti-drug operations.”

“Such military operations only serve to heighten tensions and serve as disincentive to forging a more stable bilateral ceasefire,” Agcaoili told Bello.

Bello had earlier written Agcaoili last October 20, urging the NDF to join the GRP in simultaneously declaring “their renewed commitment to their respective unilateral, indefinite ceasefire.”

The GRP Peace Panel Chairman made the proposal because the two sides were not going to be able to work out a bilateral ceasefire agreement to meet an October 26 deadline.

In a statement sent to the media Sunday, the NDF said there was no need for it to make a simultaneous declaration with the GRP because it had always been clear that the unilateral ceasefire that the communist group declared on August 28 “will remain valid during the course of peace negotiations until superseded by a ceasefire agreement to be issued jointly by the NDFP with the GRP within the next 60 days or until a notice of termination of this ceasefire declaration takes effect 10 days after receipt of said notice by the GRP Negotiating Panel from the NDF Negotiating Panel.”

Agcaoili also reminded Bello about the government’s commitment for the release and proclamation of amnesty for political prisoners which was included in the joint statements issued by the two parties in the June, August and October talks in Oslo, Norway.

“The fulfillment of such commitment would serve as a big incentive towards accelerating the peace negotiations and forging a mutual stable ceasefire,” Agcaoili said.

It was earlier reported that about 50 political prisoners – most of them elderly, women, sick and detained for more than 10 years – will be released in the coming weeks. It would be the second batch of detainees that would be released by the government, after the first group of 22 NDF consultants were set free in August.

As it is, there are more than 400 political prisoners awaiting their release either on bail, presidential pardon or withdrawal of cases by the government.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2016/10/31/ndf-alarmed-over-violations-of-ceasefire/