Military

Mandaya farmers call for a stop to military operations in Davao Oriental

PHOTO ESSAY From the towns of Baganga, Cateel and Boston in Davao Oriental, more than 200 Mandaya farmers walked the five-kilometer distance from the downtown area of Mati, the province's capital, to Barangay Dahikan, the seat of legislative power, to criticize the military for the alleged human rights abuses in their villages.

Continue ReadingMandaya farmers call for a stop to military operations in Davao Oriental

Government insists on ceasefire before talks with NDF can resume

By MARILOU M. AGUIRRE | Davao Today

"There must be a cessation of hostilities first," Gonzales said during the Local Peace and Security Assembly (LPSA) for Davao Region. He said the government panel already relayed its stand to Prof. Jose Ma. Sison, the NDFP chief political consultant, in one of their meetings in Utrecth, The Netherlands.

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Communists can be defeated if Arroyo term is extended, national security adviser says

By MARILOU M. AGUIRRE | Davao Today

Short of admitting the failure of the Arroyo administration to stamp out the Communist rebellion, Gonzales told local peace executives there are only two choices left: either craft a really good local government counter-insurgency strategy or extend the term of the President. He said Arroyo wishes to finish the Communist rebellion when her term ends in 2010, but with only two and a half years left in her term, he doubts if the government can achieve it.

Continue ReadingCommunists can be defeated if Arroyo term is extended, national security adviser says