Government panel chief negotiator and incoming Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III converses with Fidel Agcaoili, one of the members of the National Democratic Front negotiating panel during the peace forum at the Davao City Recreation Center, on June 29, 2016. Both panels will resume the formal peace talks on August 22, 2016 in Oslo, Norway. (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY – Despite the newest warning of President Rodrigo Duterte against the Communist Party of the Philippines on exploding “one more landmine and the talks are out”, the resumption of the formal talks between the government and the National Democratic Front remains on track on August 22 in Oslo, Norway.
“The schedule remains the same. We are going to meet with them. August 22, is the set date for meeting with them in Oslo, Norway,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said in a press conference here on Tuesday, August 9.
“All preparations towards this formal resumption of negotiations with the CPP-NPA-NDF and we’re ready to take that trip to make that thing happen,” Dureza added.
He said that the President’s recent pronouncements are part of the “humps and bumps” in travelling the road to peace.
“Yung mga sinasabi niyong incidents in between, as you know travelling the peace road is not a well-paved road, diba? (Those incidents that you are referring to in between, as you know travelling the peace road is not a well-paved road, right?),” Dureza said.
Dureza clarified that the earlier schedule of August 20 is devoted for the travel time from the Philippines to Norway.
‘Landmine’ use
On Sunday, August 7, Duterte gave another ultimatum to the CPP to stop the use of “landmines” during his visit to the wake of four soldiers who were killed in a series of offensives by the NPAs in Monkayo, Compostela Valley province inside the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City.
He said if he there would be another explosion, he will ask the government panel to go home and stop the peace talks.
“You can fight, we will fight. But do not use landmines because it is prohibited by the Geneva Convention of which the Philippines is a signatory,” said Duterte.
“Sabi ko pag may magputok na landmine, I’m giving the ultimatum now, pag may marinig ako bukas na may namatay sa landmine, you can say goodbye to the peace talks (I’m giving the ultimatum now. I said if I hear another landmine explosion and someone died because of it,you can say goodbye to the peace talks). I will ready the AFP for another 45 years of fighting,” the president said.
The NDF on Sunday, August 7 defended the use of “command detonated” explosives by the NPAs and said that it does not violate Geneva Convention and the Ottawa Treaty.
Duterte’s ultimatums
President Duterte has made a series of strong statements with regards to the peace talks with the Communists. The most recent was his lifting of the unilateral ceasefire a week after he declared it during his first State of the Nation Address.
The reason was the ambush slay on July 27, two days after his Sona, of a Cafgu Armed Auxiliary and the wounding of four other government troops in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. The following day, Duterte visited the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Luzon Command were he said that he wanted the CPP to explain the attack. He also warned that he will lift the ceasefire if he will not get an answer by Thursday night.
On July 29, Duterte again set an ultimatum with the Communists to reciprocate the government’s unilateral ceasefire during his visit at the 60th Infantry Battalion in Camp Morgia, Asuncion, Davao del Norte. The NPA responded in a statement saying the ambuscade was meant to thwart the military offensive of the Cafgu Active Auxiliary of the 72nd Infantry Battalion and armed Alamara paramilitary troops.
Duterte lifted the ceasefire on July 30, around 7:00 pm.
The CPP said that even with the lifting of the ceasefire, they are still willing to work with the President in the peace negotiations. The Communists also told Duterte to “exercise a little more prudence and display more measured temperament as a way of appreciating the situation from a broader historical perspective in order to avoid such impulsive acts as imposing ultimatums by the hour on a conflict that has spanned nearly fifty years.”(davaotoday.com)
