PALACE: NO REASON FOR PEACE TALKS TO FAIL, THE 'BEST' PEACE PANEL
MANILA, JANUARY 4, 2011 (STAR) By Delon Porcalla - There is no reason for the government's peace talks with the communist rebels to fail, particularly because members of the government's negotiating team are sympathetic to their cause, Malacañang said yesterday.
"This is the best peace panel that the NPA (New People's Army) will be dealing with... We've got (people) they are familiar with. They've got friends in the peace panel. So, we expect them to come to the peace talks in good faith," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
Lacierda cited as example chief government negotiator Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla, who is a renowned human rights lawyer, and Pablito Sanidad, a lawyer, both very familiar with the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF).
"And with Undersecretary Padilla and (Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary) Ging Deles and the others, who are friendly with them, like attorney Sanidad, we would expect the CPP-NPA-NDF to come to the peace panel in good faith," Lacierda pointed out.
Deles, for her part, vowed to make the people feel the peace this year.
She called on all employees of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to help the Aquino administration pursue peace and development in the country.
"We will win the peace. Let us make that felt in 2011," she said.
Deles gave assurance there would be significant developments on the peace efforts with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the CPP-NPA-NDF by the middle of the month.
Deles said informal talks between the government peace panel with the CPP-NPA-NDF would start in Norway from Jan. 14 to 18.
She added this would also start the implementation of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, the government's flagship program that seeks to empower internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other families living in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.
Lacierda, on the other hand, refused to categorize several attacks of the NPA as outright violations of the 19-day ceasefire agreement that ended yesterday.
"We have to see. There was a claim of violation. What is important is the show of good faith on both sides. We showed that the government is sincere, that we are sincere in our efforts to make the peace process a continuing effort," he said. Lacierda said the government is hoping for a successful agreement with the communist rebels. "Again, it's all up to the parties concerned. As far as the government is concerned, we are trying to assure (them) that we are sincere in our efforts to make sure that there will be a lasting peace agreement," he added.
No less than President Aquino himself declared that he would deal with the CPP-NPA-NDF in good faith no matter what. "At the very least, the government will demonstrate its sincerity in trying to achieve peace through dialogue rather than violence. But we'll do what we have to do," Lacierda said.
At the same time, Malacañang is open to proposals to include CPP-NPA spokesman Gregorio Rosal in the rebel-negotiating panel. This only proves that the government is doing all it can to achieve a lasting peace, Lacierda said.
"As far as we are concerned, we are prepared to negotiate with any member of the peace panel that they nominate. It doesn't matter to us. It's not for us to determine who will comprise the panel of the CPP-NPA-NDF. It's up to them who will comprise their peace panel," he said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Edith Regalado and Jaime Laude
YEARENDER: Government encountering glitches in pursuing peace talks By Jose Rodel Clapano (The Philippine Star) Updated January 03, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Barely six months in office, President Aquino is bent on pursuing peace talks with the New People's Army (NPA), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) but has encountered some glitches in the initial phase of negotiations.
Apparently, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) head Teresita Quintos-Deles is wrong in her belief that the "highest mandate" received by Aquino in the May 2010 presidential elections is enough to convince the rebels to finally enter into an agreement with the government for lasting peace in the country.
The most recent indication that peace negotiations are not about to yield positive results is the lack of sincerity shown by the NPA two days before the start of the 19-day Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) by the government from Dec. 16 to Jan. 3, 2011.
Ten soldiers and a nine-year-old boy were killed while two others were wounded in an attack launched by the NPA against civilians and military troops from the 63rd Infantry Battalion in northern Samar while on their way back to barracks to comply with the SOMO.
But despite the recent attacks, Deles said the government remains committed to the 19-day ceasefire.
"The Philippine government would like to emphasize that in spite of this incident, and with full recognition and appreciation of the discipline and commitment of our security forces, we remain steadfast in our commitment to honor the agreed upon suspension of military operations," Deles said.
Deles admitted that the attack was unfortunate because it "mars an otherwise momentous agreement forged during the informal talks held in Hong Kong a few weeks ago between the Philippine government and leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front)."
She called on the NPA-CPP-NDF to be resolute in pursuing peace.
"Despite this treacherous attack on the eve of the observance of the ceasefires declared by both sides, we believe that the course to genuine peace is the appropriate answer to the current conflict, one which has been ongoing for the past 41 years resulting in the deaths and misery of thousands of our country folks," the government peace panel said.
Deles also called on civil society organizations to monitor the ceasefire.
"This is to be followed by informal talks in January of next year and the first round of formal peace negotiations in February," Deles said.
The OPAPP has tapped civil society to strengthen the government's effort for peace and development in conflict-affected areas in the country.
Recently, OPAPP undersecretary Luisito Montalbo conducted talks with representatives of non-government organizations (NGOs) and indigenous peoples' organizations where he outlined possible areas of collaboration with them.
Montalbo said OPAPP's development track, dubbed as PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Progressive Community), which complements the peace negotiations, will need immense support from civil society.
He cited OPAPP's current improvements in its communication strategies, such as the use of social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, as well as involvement in school or university-initiated forums and events.
"There are more avenues and other media to explore and the OPAPP is open to suggestions on how to improve relationships and communication lines between the government and all sectors of society," Montalbo said.
Alexander Padilla, chairman of the government panel talking peace with the CPP-NPA, said the 19-day SOMO is part of the government's confidence-building measures.
The government, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), also lifted the "hold departure order" against NDF peace panel chairman Luis Jalandoni.
Government peace panel member lawyer Pablito Sanidad met with Jalandoni, Coni Ledesma and their counsel last Dec. 1 and 2 during the first round of informal meetings with NDF.
"Without any pre-set agenda, discussions on matters of mutual concern and interests were taken up. The talks were open, friendly, freewheeling and eventually, meaningful," Padilla said.
Padilla said they also reiterated the effectivity of the JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees) during their meeting.
Aside from the implementation of the SOMO, Padilla said another round of informal talks is tentatively set sometime in the second week of January.
Padilla said the Philippine government deeply appreciates the third party facilitator, the Royal Norwegian government.
The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has also asked the members of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) to extend the tour of duty of their personnel in Mindanao for another three months.
Deles cited that the IMT, composed of delegates from Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and Japan, monitors the ceasefire, socio-economic and humanitarian agreements between the government and the MILF.
She said that since September 2004, the IMT has worked closely with the joint government-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) to prevent and address the impact of hostilities in affected provinces in Mindanao.
Deles said the most recent major conflict took place in August 2008 during the height of the controversy on the scrapped Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain.
"However, the number of armed skirmishes has gone down significantly in the last two years, with both parties affirming their commitment to observe the ceasefire," Deles said.
Deles said the European Union and Norway have also accepted the invitations sent by the Philippine government and the MILF early this year to join the IMT.
Deles also said she is willing to coordinate with the MILF for the surrender of the other suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, where 57 people, including 32 journalists, were killed.
Deles made the statement in response to the request of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo for her to coordinate with the MILF for the surrender of the other suspects in the carnage who sought refuge with the secessionists.
Meantime, the government peace panel with the MNLF has already begun its five-day formal meeting for the review of the proposed amendments to Republic Act 9054, the law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) that was approved in 2001.
RA 9054 covers the provinces of Lanao, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao and the cities of Marawi, Lamitan and Basilan under ARMM.
Deles stressed that the government is committed to completing the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the MNLF.
Holiday truce ends; 14 communist rebels surrender By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated January 03, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Fourteen communist rebels surrendered to authorities during the 19-day holiday ceasefire, which will end this midnight, the military reported yesterday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said the desire to live peaceful lives and positive changes in the government may have prompted the rebel returnees to lay down their weapons.
"Since we declared the SOMO (suspension of offensive military operations), there has been an influx of surrenderees. As of now, there are 14 from different areas," Mabanta said.
"They might not be really convinced about the prospects of the revolution. They are seeing that we now have a government which has a higher mandate plus the fact that they can spend the rest of their lives with their family," he added.
Mabanta said the government's social integration program, which aims to provide livelihood to former rebels, also helped encourage the insurgents to return to mainstream society.
The military did not identify those who surrendered but Mabanta said they came from Davao, northern Mindanao, Occidental Mindoro and Aurora.
Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said the corruption within the leadership of the New People's Army (NPA) prodded the former rebels to abandon the communist movement.
"There is significant rise in the number of NPA regulars and supporters who are returning to the fold of the law. One of the reasons is the massive corruption within the underground movement," Parlade said in a statement.
Parlade said that while NPA fighters suffer from starvation and lack of clothes, their leaders amass big amounts of money.
The holiday ceasefire took effect last Dec. 16 and will end midnight today.
The truce was declared as the government and the National Democratic Front are preparing for the peace talks, set tentatively in Oslo, Norway on Feb. 19-25.
Mabanta said they have intensified their intelligence gathering amid reports that the NPA will launch offensives once the holiday truce is lifted.
"Our forces are in place. We have taken advantage of the time to strengthen our defenses and get more intelligence information so... we would be ready to start our operations," he said.
Maj. Eugenio Osias IV, spokesman of the Army's 4th Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, said they have been ordered to prepare for possible NPA attacks once the ceasefire ends.
Previous reports said the NPA in northeastern Mindanao was planning to mount an all-out offensive against government targets.
The AFP and the NPA have traded accusations of ceasefire violations.
Mabanta said they have so far recorded two incidents of ceasefire violations.
He said the first happened in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental last Dec. 20 when rebels allegedly tried to kill a militiaman.
In another incident, rebels reportedly ambushed soldiers waiting to receive an NPA member who wanted to surrender last Dec. 23 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
The NPA, however, claimed that Army troops were the ones who launched an offensive in Negros Oriental.
The communists also accused the AFP of mounting counter-insurgency operations despite the ceasefire.
"Local mass organizations and NPA units have reported that the AFP continues to carry out aggressive operations, terrorizing the masses in the guerrilla fronts where the NPA operates," the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said in a statement.
"The AFP thus shows its scorn and mockery of the mutual ceasefire as its units continue to launch offensive military operations," it said.
Citing partial reports, the CPP claimed that the military committed seven ceasefire violations in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions and Southern Tagalog.
----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
----------------------------------------------------------
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------
