Mindanao solon: Leave peace talks alone

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate (right) said the lifting of the government’s unilateral ceasefire with Communist rebels was ‘unfortunate.’ Despite the recall, he called on President Rodrigo Duterte (left) to allow peace talks to resume as scheduled in August. INQUIRER FILES

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The government’s lifting of the unilateral ceasefire should not be a reason to call off the resumption of formal talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said.

Zarare said President Duterte’s lifting of the ceasefire was unfortunate.

The President recalled his order for a unilateral ceasefire against communist rebels after New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas  attacked government militiamen, killing one and wounding three others.

READ: Militiaman killed, 4 hurt in NPA ambush in Davao Norte | Sison: CPP-NPA-NDF supposed to declare ceasefire at 8 p.m.

“The lifting of the government’s unilateral ceasefire is very unfortunate, considering the initial positive advances that both the government and the NDFP have reached, particularly during their informal talks last June 14-15 in Oslo, Norway,” Zarate said in a statement.

The Mindanaoan lawmaker said that the setback hopefully would not cancel out the efforts to make the process work.

“We hope that,  despite this development, the scheduled formal resumption of talks on August 20 will still push through, wherein  among the agenda set in their June 15 joint statement is the matter of ceasefire declaration by the two parties,” Zarate said.

All is not lost after all, Zarate said, adding that the opportunity to finally end the conflict is still there.

“We are calling on the administration of President Duterte and the leadership of the NDFP, as well as their respective panels, to continue to find all and every possible ways and means for the talks to proceed, for the greater interest of a just and lasting peace that our country and people have long awaited for,” Zarate said.

‘No violation by NPA’

Edre Olalia, International Legal Advisory Team (ILAT) of the NDFP negotiating panel, said that technically there was no violation from the NPA considering that it was a unilateral ceasefire.

“Since it is unilateral to such party, i.e. one-sided, any violation can only be committed by the forces of that declaring party. So, any allegation of a disputed violation by the other party to the armed conflict of the unilateral declaration by one party  is misplaced,” Olalia said.

Ending the unilateral ceasefire might be rash but it is totally the call of the government, Olalia said.

“To use this ‘violation’ which turns out to be committed  by its  own forces close to home as a basis to lift or withdraw such unilateral ceasefire may not only  be rash and mistaken but also precipitate.  But issuing, withdrawing or lifting any such unilateral act is ultimately its  call,” he added.

Olalia also noted that issuing ultimatums would not help the peace process.

“A party that really wants to talk peace and resolve conflicts in good faith should not be imposing artificial deadlines, issuing orders or giving ultimatums to the other party. That is not negotiations. That is simply telling the other party to capitulate or surrender not only its arms but its principles,” Olalia remarked. 

Regardless of the issues, Olalia is also convinced that resuming the talks is important even if there will be tension on the ground.

“Having said all that, the parties must continue talking even when there may be firing. They must still seize the day,” Olalia said./rga