NDF threatens to cancel peace talks

Exiled communist rebel leader Luis Jalandoni has threatened to cancel peace talks with the government because of "deeply disappointing statements" from the Arroyo administration.

In a statement from the Netherlands, Jalandoni said the Arroyo administration has exposed "its own malice" when Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles announced last Feb. 15: "We continue to maintain that the inclusion of the CPP, NPA and Prof. Jose Ma. Sison in foreign terror lists (is a) sovereign act of these states, independent of the GRP disposition regarding these matters."

Jalandoni, chairman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel, said there would be no basis for continuing the peace talks if the government did not abide by an agreement to have the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and exiled communist leader Jose Ma. Sison stricken off the terrorist lists of the European Union and the United States.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo regime must not engage in deception," Jalandoni said.

"It must cease to insist so arrogantly that the delisting would happen only after the capitulation of the revolutionary forces. In this regard, it should not act like the yelping dog of the US."

Jalandoni said the Arroyo administration has been "utterly treacherous" for running counter to its obligations under the Oslo Joint Statement signed during peace talks in Norway.

"It is reprehensible for continuing to insist that the US government has the sovereign prerogative to violate the national sovereignty of the Filipino people and the territorial integrity of the Philippines by usurping jurisdiction over revolutionary entities and events in the Philippines," he said.

Jalandoni said the Arroyo administration has continued to accept and applaud the baseless and malicious "terrorist" listing of the CPP, NPA and Sison.

"The Macapagal-Arroyo regime shamelessly takes pride in being a puppet of the US," he said.

"President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sent then Foreign Secretary Blas Ople on a mission to Europe to urge the European governments to put the CPP, NPA and Prof. Sison on their ‘terrorist’ lists," he said.

"The mouthpieces of the regime have repeated ad nauseam the ridiculous statement that the US is exercising its sovereign right in listing the CPP, the NPA and Prof. Sison as ‘terrorists.’"

Under the Oslo Joint Statement the government "jointly and separately" (with the NDF) shall call upon the US government, the Council of the EU and other concerned foreign governments (Canada and Australia) to support efforts to resolve the issue of the "terrorist" listing, Jalandoni added.

Meanwhile, CPP spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal has warned that NPA rebels will continue to attack troops despite the peace negotiations with the government.

In a telephone interview, Rosal told The STAR the NPA raids in Masbate and Negros cannot be considered a breach of the peace negotiations because the government and the NDF have not yet signed a ceasefire agreement.

"Unang una, hindi naman sila (military) aatakehin ng NPA kung hindi sila pumapasok sa guerrilla zones," he said. "Ang mahirap sa gobyerno, kapag NPA ang umatake, treacherous act na, pero kapag sila ang pumasok sa aming mga teritoryo, hindi treacherous."

Rosal said if the NPA launches an attack amid the peace talks, the government would accuse the rebels of not being sincere in pursuing negotiations to end the 35 year-old communist insurgency in the country.

"Magpapatuloy ang pag-atake ng NPA sa mga military personnel at establishment," he said.

Rosal also warned US troops participating in the Balikatan joint military exercises in Palawan and Central Luzon that they would become "legitimate military targets" if they enter rebel-held territories.

"We will not be the one to provoke that," he said. "We would just be forced to attack if they encroach on our territories."

On the other hand, peace advocates called Pilgrims for Peace lauded yesterday the government and the NDF for the success of peace talks last week in Oslo, Norway.

"In particular, we welcome the formation of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) as an interim body that shall monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive

Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the wake of alarming cases of human rights violations in the country," the group said in a statement.

However, Pilgrims for Peace challenged the two sides to conduct a thorough investigation on the twin killings of

Naujan, Mindoro Vice Mayor Juvy Magsino and Bayan Muna party-list coordinator Leima Fortu last Feb. 13.

"We appeal to the newly instituted JMC of the GRP and NDFP panels to immediately conduct thorough investigation on the twin killings," read the statement.

"We likewise urge them to render justice to the long list of human rights cases in Mindoro Oriental that include the brutal killings of human rights activists Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy last year."

Pilgrims for Peace is an inter-faith and multi-sectoral network supporting peace talks between the government and the NDF, and between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Caloocan City Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and Prime Bishop Ignacio Soliba, chairman of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, are the lead convenors of Pilgrims for Peace. –Vi Massart in Paris, James Mananghaya, Benjie Villa