{UAH} Martial law in Mindanao puts peace talks with Reds on hold
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Martial law in Mindanao puts peace talks with Reds on hold
Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, announces the cancellation of the fifth round of talks with the NDFP on Saturday, May 27, 2017. Beside him is Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chairman of the government negotiatiing panel. (Photo from the Facebook page of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process)
NOORDWIJK AAN ZEE, The Netherlands — The fifth round of talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) went on "wait-and-see mode" on Saturday after the government
Both parties were already at the beachside venue in Noordwijk for the talks in which they were expected to discuss the details of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER), the Comprehensive Agreement on Political and Constitutional Reforms (CAPCR), and the agreed crafting of a bilateral ceasefire agreement.
On Saturday, the day of the scheduled opening of the talks, NDFP senior adviser Luis Jalandoni had an interview with the media during a break from the panel-to-panel preliminary meeting, divulging that the government sought the "cancellation" of the fifth round.
The position was later on confirmed in a news conference held by Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process. He said the government panel was forced to cancel the fifth round because the NDFP "prematurely" made the announcement.
According to Dureza, the most serious development that put the peace process in "great jeopardy" was the order of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to the New People's Army (NPA) to "accelerate and intensify attacks" against the government with martial law already declared in Mindanao.
He stressed that martial law was "principally directed at extremists and terrorists who openly and defiantly challenged the government and put to harm the Filipino people" by attacking Marawi, a predominantly Islamic city in Lanao del Sur.
President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law over the whole of Mindanao on May 23, while he was still in Russia, after fighting broke out in Marawi between government forces and the Maute Group, who were reportedly joined by foreign fighters.
Despite the gains in the negotiations, Dureza said the "defiant, blatant, and serious challenge" posed by the communists to the government left the panel with no choice: It would not participate in the fifth round of negotiations until there would be clear indications of an "enabling environment conducive to achieving just and sustainable peace."
Jalandoni explained that the CPP directive to intensify attacks was not intended to undermine that negotiations. It was a response to the statement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the NPA would also be included as targets in the implementation of martial law.
"We cannot disregard what is happening on the ground," Jalandoni said.
He said he feared that Lorenzana's statement would mean massive human rights violations in the region.
Lorenzana's statement, however, was clarified earlier by both the Department of National Defense and by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chairman of the government peace panel.
"That was already clarified in the meeting this morning," Bello said. "Secretary Lorenzana came up with the latest statement that the martial law is not intended for the NPA."
On Friday, Jose Maria Sison, CPP founding chairman, acknowledged the clarification, saying that the communist movement would be one with the government in fighting terrorirst groups like the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf.
Sison added that the NDF negotiating panel recommended to the CPP to reconsider its directive to step up its attacks against government forces.
"There is still hope that is why we are waiting for them," Bello said. "It is a reality that armed conflict exists that is precisely why we are talking."
His optimism was also reciprocated by NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili, who said that his panel would formally respond to the position of the government and hopefully they would be able to troubleshoot the problem.
For now, the government is not yet ready to pack its bags and is still willing to wait for the communist movement to retract its directive to intensify its attacks.
However, in the history of the negotiations, the communists would usually take time to discuss and implement directives on the ground because of the limitations on communication.
Despite the challenges, both parties expressed their intent to continue negotiations, regardless of whether the fifth round of talks would continue or not.
Another common statement from both parties is the objective to oppose and prevent terrorist groups from further inflicting damage and affecting the lives of Filipinos. /atm
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/900145/martial-law-in-mindanao-puts-peace-talks-with-reds-on-hold#ixzz4iHtCFtKt
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