BUTUAN CITY—Despite starting off on shaky grounds and encountering several kinks, the unilateral and reciprocal ceasefire between government and communist rebels could end up successful and boost the prospects for reviving the stalled peace negotiations.
This was the assessment of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison who spoke to Mindanao reporters via Skype on Monday.
“I think, on the whole, the ceasefire will be successful. I don’t foresee any action (by government) to spoil the ceasefire. There might be isolated incidents, but not something systematic,” said Sison, who is also chief political consultant of the CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines which is engaged in peace talks with the government.
The ceasefire’s start was marred by New People’s Army (NPA) attacks against government troops in Camarines Norte and Iloilo.Military offensives
There was also NPA accusations of military offensives in Agusan del Sur at the onset of the 15-day truce that commenced on Dec. 23, and the delayed submission by government of the written ceasefire orders by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the police.
The latest kink was the supposed hostile act by the Army in Surigao del Norte that led to the cancellation of a Dec. 31 event belatedly commemorating the CPP’s 51st founding anniversary in Gigaquit town.
Sison said the success of the ceasefire, which is ending on Jan. 7, will brighten the prospects for reviving the stalled negotiations.
He revealed that by the second or third week of the month, another informal meeting is expected between the parties to prepare for the formal resumption of the peace process, most likely in Oslo.
Reiterating it is too early to come home, Sison said he is ready for a one-on-one meeting with President Duterte in Hanoi.
“That idea even comes from them,” Sison disclosed. —RYAN ROSAURO