With a rebellion that is now nearly half a century old, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hopes that the third round of peace negotiations between the government and the Communist rebels will finally result in the signing of an indefinite ceasefire agreement.
The government panel and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will meet in Rome on Jan. 18 to 25 to thresh out issues like social and economic reforms, rebel taxation, extortion and militarization, among others.
“We hope everything will be finalized to ensure the success of the peace talks,” said Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Office chief.
While the AFP is not a party to the peace negotiations, he said the government panel is also asking for inputs from the military.
Some observers see the Rome round of talks as a make or break stage that could determine if the peace efforts are still to be pursued.
“In the third round of peace talks, we are hoping that we will already have a joint ceasefire declaration,” Arevalo said.
Among the concerns the AFP wants tackled and resolved are the accusations by some in the business sector that the New People’s (NPA) is still continuing in its extortion activities through threat and intimidation.
It cited the burning of several passenger buses, which run the South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City routes, as an example of these activities.
“While these extortion activities and burning (of buses) could not be considered violations in the peace talks, it’s very clear that they violate the existing laws of the land,” Arevalo said.
http://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662397/afp-hopeful-signing-ceasefire-accord
The government panel and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will meet in Rome on Jan. 18 to 25 to thresh out issues like social and economic reforms, rebel taxation, extortion and militarization, among others.
“We hope everything will be finalized to ensure the success of the peace talks,” said Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Office chief.
While the AFP is not a party to the peace negotiations, he said the government panel is also asking for inputs from the military.
Some observers see the Rome round of talks as a make or break stage that could determine if the peace efforts are still to be pursued.
“In the third round of peace talks, we are hoping that we will already have a joint ceasefire declaration,” Arevalo said.
It cited the burning of several passenger buses, which run the South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City routes, as an example of these activities.
“While these extortion activities and burning (of buses) could not be considered violations in the peace talks, it’s very clear that they violate the existing laws of the land,” Arevalo said.
http://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662397/afp-hopeful-signing-ceasefire-accord
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