Joma Sison hits cancellation of peace talks

MANILA, Philippines — Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison on Thursday criticized President Duterte for unilaterally cancelling the resumption of peace talks with the rebels.

Sison said it was “disappointing and frustrating” that Duterte decided to cancel the peace talks at the last minute as preparations are underway for the formal peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Oslo, Norway on June 28.

Sison said Duterte and his administration have simply shown no interest in serious peace negotiations.

As a result, Sison warned that communist rebels would “singlemindedly” wage the people’s war.

Sison said the written agreements pertaining to the scheduled events have been signed by no less than the respective chairpersons of the government and the NDF negotiating panels.

The agreements signing was witnessed by the Royal Norwegian special envoy Idun Tevdt on June 9.

“I urge the two negotiating panels to release to the public and to the press the written and signed agreements of June 9 and 10 signed by the chairmen of the (government) and NDF negotiating panels and by the members of their respective special teams,” Sison said.

For their part, the military brushed aside the threat aired by Sison that the rebels would continue the people’s war in the wake of the suspension of the peace talks.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said the military wants lasting peace but the troops should perform their mandate to restore peace.

“While we subscribe to the shared aspiration towards the attainment of a just and lasting peace through dialogues and deliberations, the AFP shall continue to perform its mandate to protect the people, ensure the peace and the territorial integrity of the country,” Arevalo said.

Sources said the President had a change of heart after senior military officials reportedly requested him to delay the resumption of peace talks for three months after consultations with all stakeholders.

The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said the cancellation of the peace talks is not a good sign for the peace process as a whole. 

“The reason offered by Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, of the need to hold public consultations, appears flimsy and disregards years of public fora and consultations held on the peace talks,” Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said. Reyes said several lawmaker and peace advocates have already expressed support for the talks.

“There have been signed agreements this June for the holding of formal talks at the end of the month which could lead to an interim peace agreement which includes important socio-economic reforms. We fear that the postponement will undermine the goodwill that has been created in the series of backchannel talks and may waste an opportunity to address the serious economic crisis facing the nation,” he said. – With Rhodina Villanueva, Artemio Dumlao, Jaime Laude