A student group on Tuesday urged the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to resume their peace talks.
“There are several compelling reasons to continue the peace talks between the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) and NDFP. It is unacceptable that President (Rodrigo) Duterte is easily giving up in attaining just peace by listening to the saboteurs like the imperialist US and its lapdogs in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” League of Filipino Students (LFS) spokesperson JP Rosos said in a statement.
The President on Sunday announced the termination of the government’s unilateral ceasefire, saying there would be no more peace talks with the communists without a “compelling reason.” A day before the announcement, the US State Department refused to delist the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) from their terrorist list, Rosos recalled.
READ: Duterte: No more peace talks with Reds without ‘compelling reason’
“This is a calibrated plan by the US imperialism and its cohorts in the Duterte government. While the GRP peace negotiators are engaging in peace talks, saboteurs are hindering the release of more than 400 political prisoners even if it is part of the mutual agreements between GRP and NDFP. Worse, the state military is relentless in their violations of their own ceasefire,” Rosos said.
“The release of political prisoners that Duterte adamantly refuse to execute and the order of re-arrests of NDFP consultants are violations of the previously-signed agreements. The Duterte regime must uphold these resolutions to pave the way of resolving the roots of armed conflict,” he added.
The group reminded Mr. Duterte that there is a state of belligerency in the country, and unity and peace are the key to resolve the armed conflicts that can only be attained through addressing the social and economic problems in the society.
“We call for the resumption of peace talks and demand to address the social and economic cause of the civil war in the country. To push forward, the Duterte government must adhere to the principles of belligerency,” the LFS spokesperson said.
“He should uphold previous agreements and thread a path that will address the socio-economic roots of the armed conflict. This is the change we want to see. This is the change we hope to come,” he added. RAM/rga