Government scraps talks with Reds

MANILA, Philippines -  Backchannel talks between the government and communists have been cancelled following the spate of attacks by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza said yesterday.

“I am announcing the cancellation of backchannel talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front) originally set within the next few days in Europe due to recent developments involving attacks done by the NPA,” Dureza said in an online post yesterday. 

“The situation on the ground necessary to provide the desired enabling environment for the conduct of peace negotiations is still not present up to this time,” he added. 

Dureza made the announcement hours after suspected NPA rebels wounded five members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in an ambush in North Cotabato.

President Duterte was not in the convoy when gunmen opened fire on two PSG vehicles along a highway in Arakan town yesterday.

Duterte earlier ordered the government peace panel not to hold negotiations until the rebels agree to stop their offensives in Mindanao. 

Duterte issued the directive in a meeting with members of the peace panel in Malacañang late Tuesday.

“The President directed the government panel negotiating with the National Democratic Front not to resume formal peace talks unless the Reds agree to stop their attacks against government troops in Mindanao,” said a Malacañang statement issued yesterday. 

According to the Malacañang statement, Duterte had stressed the need for communists to “stop engaging the military in Mindanao if they want to continue the peace negotiations.”

“The government has always dealt with the communist rebels in good faith,” the President was quoted by the statement as saying. 

Earlier this month, government peace panel chair Silvestre Bello III said the government and communists may resume formal talks within the second or third week of August. He said informal talks may be held this month to discuss a possible interim ceasefire and socioeconomic reforms. 

The fifth round of talks was suspended after the CPP ordered its armed wing, the NPA, to intensify attacks against state forces carrying out the martial law in Mindanao. 

Asked about the possible resumption of talks next month, Dureza said: “We still do not have a commitment on that.”  

“The fifth round is still officially suspended, OK? There is no decision to resume it,” he told reporters in a phone patch interview yesterday. 

Duterte was in favor of conducting backchannel talks with the rebels during his meeting with government negotiators. 

“What the President approved was the conduct of backchannel, informal quiet (talks) so we can bring to them the issues of no extortion, ceasefire, attacks. And then after that, whatever the results, we will report to the President to find out if it’s OK to resume,” Dureza said hours before announcing the cancelation of backchannel talks.

The CPP-NPA-NDF have been in off-and-on peace talks with the government since Duterte, a self-described socialist, was elected last year.

Both sides declared unilateral ceasefires, but these did not last.

Duterte suspended formal peace talks in May after both sides failed to resolve a dispute over the CPP’s order for the NPA to step up attacks.

To try and end the two-month impasse, Duterte was planning to send negotiators to an unspecified venue and informally discuss a possible bilateral ceasefire agreement, the government statement said.

But it warned that for formal peace talks to resume, the rebels must commit to “suspending operations against the military and the police and stopping all their extortion activities on the ground.”

The military said they are supporting Duterte’s position against talking peace with rebels while fighting them.

Armed Forces Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo pointed out the NPA took the opportunity of attacking government troops battling the Maute terrorists in Marawi City.

The fighting in Marawi forced Duterte to place the entire Mindanao region under martial law.

The communists then criticized Duterte over his call to extend martial law in Mindanao.

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison had warned prolonged martial law and its possible nationwide implementation could scuttle peace negotiations.

The CPP ordered the NPA to resist Duterte’s plan to extend martial law in Mindanao. 

“The New People’s Army must continue to strengthen itself nationwide by carrying out armed counteractions and offensives across the country to defeat the Mindanao martial law and nationwide all-out war,” CPP said in a statement. 

Malacanang dismissed the threat.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the rebels should support the government’s campaign against a common enemy rather than looking at the state as their adversary.

Duterte earlier rejected the communist group’s offer to fight alongside the military against the extremist Maute group in Marawi City.

“It is time for the CPP-NPA-NDF to reciprocate the government’s gestures of goodwill by ending their extortion and criminal activities and redirecting their energy to help eradicate terrorism and violent extremism in Mindanao,” Abella said.

“To show that the CPP-NPA-NDF is truly in pursuit of peaceful coexistence, they must stand against a common enemy, regardless of martial law extension,” he said.

Abella said the Duterte administration has shown on numerous occasions its strong commitment to peace.

Abella shrugged off the CPP leader’s suggestion that the two parties should first discuss the implications of martial law on the peace talks.  – Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude, Gilbert Bayoran, AFP