Philippine president Duterte ends ceasefire with Maoist rebels

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that he now considers the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPC) , New People's Army (NPA), and National Democratic Front (NDF) as terrorist groups rather than rebels.

The CPC , a Maoist communist party, was formed almost a half century ago in 1968. It is banned and its leader Jose Sison lives in exile in the Netherlands. It has its own website on which it announced the cessation of its unilateral ceasefire:

The August 28, 2016 unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire issued by the Central Committee of the CPP (CPP-CC) and the National Operations Command of the New People’s Army (NPA-NOC) is hereby terminated. The Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) shall be given notice today of this termination by the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front (NDFP).With this declaration and notice, the August 28 unilateral ceasefire shall effectively expire on 11:59 p.m. of February 10.

The New People's Army(NPA) is the armed wing of the CPP and has been carrying out an armed struggle against the government for going on half a century now. It controls territory in some rural areas mostly in the main northern island of Luzon but also a few areas in the large southern island of Mindanao. The CPP also has a number of legal political front organizations with the NDF being their umbrella organization. On their website, the group claimed to be waiting for formal notice from the government of termination of peace negotiations. The group noted that all 17 NDFP consultants who had been released from jail were back in the Philippines and not in hiding as apparently some reports said.

Last summer there had been meetings between the government and rebels sponsored by Norway that had been a major breakthrough with both sides declaring a ceasefire. Al Jazeera reported:The Philippine government and Maoist rebels have signed an indefinite ceasefire deal to facilitate peace talks aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies. "This is a historic and unprecedented event ... [but] there is still a lot of work to be done ahead," President Rodrigo Duterte's peace adviser Jesus Dureza said at Friday's signing ceremony in Norway, which is mediating the talks.

Duterte had shown some sympathy to the rebel cause and had made it a priority to negotiate a peace deal with them that would stop the long costly struggle with the group. In turn, the Maoists threw their support behind Duterte's drug war: "The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said in a statement on Saturday that it had authorized its in-house militia, the New People's Army (NPA), to "disarm and arrest" drug lords, local news site GMA News reports."

Now this has cooperation is all ended and it is back to constant low level warfare it would seem. After he announced he was suspending peace talks. Duterte said: "From now on I will consider the CPP-NPA-NDF a terrorist group." He told the negotiators he had released to attend peace talks to return home and go back to prison. They are apparently already back in the Philippines but it appears they are not back in prison as yet. They are out on bail and feel they should not be arrested at least until the term of the bail runs out. Duterte also announced the end of the government's unilateral ceasefire.

The breakdown in the talks is the result of a number of clashes in recent weeks. The leadership of the rebels is not always able to control the actions of every local commander. Government commanders as well have varying attitudes to the struggle some no doubt not favoring a ceasefire. Recently three soldiers were killed in an ambush near Cagayan de Oro on the southern island of Mindanao. President Duterte was visiting the area to attend their funeral. Duterte awarded the three soldiers medals and provided financial support for their families. Duterte also said that the Geneva Convention did not apply to the NPA since they are criminals. Wikipedia reports that from the inception of the rebellion in 1969 until 2008 there were more than 43,000 insurgency related deaths.

Philippine Government and Maoist rebels reach ceasefire agreement

The Philippine government and communist rebels of the New Peoples' Army (NPA) have agreed to an indefinite ceasefire at peace talks in Oslo hosted by Norway.

The conflict between the government and the Maoist NPA has lasted almost half a century and at least 40,000 people have been killed. Wikipedia describes the NPA as follows:

 The New People's Army (NPA) (Filipino: Bagong Hukbong Bayan) is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). It was formed and founded by Bernabe Buscayno A.K.A. "Commander Dante" on March 29, 1969. The Maoist NPA conducts its armed guerrilla struggle based on the strategical line of protracted "people's war"... The Philippine Army estimated the NPA's strength at 60,000 fighters at the end of 2015.The NPA is in rural areas in many parts of the Philippines.

The government of President Rodrigo Duterte hopes a peace agreement can be reached within a year of the talks. Duterte had promised as part of his successful presidential campaign to try reach a peace agreement with the NPA. This is the first formal meeting between the two sides in five years. There have been peace talks for about thirty years now.

The Norwegian foreign minister Boerge Brende, who hosted the ceremony announcing the ceasefire said he hoped that the two sides could forge an agreement similar to that between Colombia and the Marxist FARC rebels that has also been ongoing for over half a century. Norway has been instrumental in trying forge peace deals in Colombia and the Philippines.

The Philippine government has reaffirmed its commitment to an open-ended ceasefire that started on August 21 as the NPA agreed to match it. The exiled founder of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines, Jose Sison, who lives in the Netherlands said: "There is a clear plan to accelerate the peace negotiations". The rebels are demanding radical reforms such as the redistribution of land to poor farmers, and the nationalization of industries. The National Democratic Front (NDF) the political wing of the Philippine Communist Party has agreed to meet in Oslo again on October 8.

President Duterte had released a number of jailed NPA commanders on bail to attend the talks. Both sides urged the president to grant an amnesty to all insurgents. At present, there are about 530 guerrillas in Philippine jails. The Philippine Congress would also need to approve the amnesty. Duterte has campaigned to end the clashes not just with the communist NPA but also with the main Muslim militant groups. He says that the long conflicts have hampered Philippine economic development. Reuters sets the number of NPA fighters at just 3,000 much lower than the Philippine Army figure. At its peak in the 1980's the NPA was thought to have had around 30,000 fighters. Al Jazeera gives a present figure of just around 4,000

Jesus Dureza spokesperson for President Duterte said: "This is a historic and unprecedented event ... [but] there is still a lot of work to be done ahead." An agreement to indefinite ceasefires has never been reached before. The two sides also agreed that they would speed up the peace process by coming to substantial agreement on economic and social reforms within six months according to a statement by the Norwegian foreign ministry. This agreement would be followed by agreement on political and constitutional reforms and then a final agreement to end armed conflict would be signed.

President Duterte hailed the progress in Norway saying: "We are in a better position [to talk peace] now. There is a window. We are not fighting the Communists. They have declared a truce. In return, I also ordered a ceasefire." An agreement was renewed that allows immunity for members of the National Democratic Front (NDF) so that they can participate in negotiations without fear of arrest. In 2002 the US listed both the NPA and Communist Party of the Philippines as terrorist organizations. However they are no longer listed as such in the Philippines making negotiations less difficult.

Although a supporter and admirer of dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was staunchly anti-communist, Duterte has had relatively positive relations with the NPA. He has at times described himself as a socialist. He has even sketched out the possibility of a coalition government with the rebels. He was a university student of Jose Sison now 77, who founded the Communist Party of the Philippines. The communists have supported Duterte in his controversial campaign against drug dealers and users. Duterte wants peace with both communist and Muslim rebels as a way to help end poverty in the Philippines and foster economic development.

Philippine president releases communist rebels prior to Norway peace talks

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte came to power not only on a promise to wage a war against drug trafficking but also to negotiate an end to five decades of conflict with the Maoist New Peoples Army (NPA) that has killed more than 40,000.

The NPA has been operating in the Philippines since 1969, as described by Wikipedia: "The New People's Army (NPA) (Filipino: " Bagong Hukbong Bayan) is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). It was formed and founded by Bernabe Buscayno A.K.A. "Commander Dante" on March 29, 1969. " The Philippine Army estimates that at the end of 2015 it had about 60,000 fighters. They are spread throughout rural areas of the Philippines. The U.S. State Department designates the NPA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and it is also branded as a terrorist organization by EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. However, the Philippine government delisted the NPA as a terrorist group in 2011 making negotiations somewhat easier.

The Philippines has let 12 NPA leaders out of jail on bail just a few days before new talks are to start in Norway. National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said the temporary release of the leaders was the result of president Duterte's peace offer. The talks with the government had been stalled in 2012 over the refusal of the government to free the leaders who have been in jail for decades. The chief said the peace offer was one of the most positive developments in years.

Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the leftist Bayan or Nation group that is allied with the communists said that the releases were a good sign and had raised hopes that the talks, set to begin in Norway on August 22, would begin on a positive note. Among those released on bail were Tirso Alcantara one of the highest ranking guerrilla leaders who was wounded in a firefight with Philippine soldiers five years ago. However, top leaders Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma remain in prison. Activists have been demonstrating outside the national police office demanding the release of them as other senior guerrilla leaders. Human rights advocates claim that the government is holding more than 500 rebels in detention, including Muslim rebel leaders.

Another report claims that 17 guerrilla leaders were released on bail to attend the peace talks. They all vowed to return home to the Philippines rather than flee after the talks. Apparently, Benito Tamzon and his wife have also been released and he said: "We will return home after the peace talks in Oslo. We were released from jail to take part in the peace talks and we are serious about it. The negotiations in Oslo are only one part of the process and there are other talks happening in other venues."

Security forces worry that rebel leaders would stay overseas or see them as a pretext to rebuild their army and consolidate their ranks. In 1987, the leader and founder of the Philippine Communist Party, Jose Sison, after nine years of detention went to the Netherlands. He sought asylum and has lived in Utrecht for the last 30 years.

Tamzon praised Duterte saying: "This is the first and only time we have a president determined to push genuine reforms." He said that he had better prospects to end the long conflict than earlier attempts. He said that the two sides hope to negotiate a ceasefire when the talks begin on August 22. The two will also discuss political, economic, and constitutional reforms as well. Another five leaders that are still in detention hope to join the other 17 traveling to Oslo for the talks.

Philippine Roman Catholic leader condemns president Duterte's tactics in drug war

President Rodrigo Deterte is continuing his aggressive tactics as part of his war on drug dealers. He has just put out a list of officials that he claims are linked to the drug trade.

The names include members of Congress, military officers, and judges. One of those named was former Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama. Rama said :

 "The news that my name was mentioned by President Duterte is saddening. Even how untrue this accusation is, should this be the way and the necessary step to win the war against drugs, I will fully cooperate with the authorities to immediately clear my name and we trust that we will be given the opportunity to present our side and prove our innocence. My unwavering support for President Duterte's campaign will continue.

Nevertheless Duterte claims that the names on the list had been validated and re-validated.

While police claim that more than 500,000 people have surrendered to local authorities and pledged to stop using illegal drugs many are extremely critical of Duterte's methods which involve an order to "shoot to kill." Duterte claims he is waging a war and is invoking the laws of war. In a statement Saturday Duterte said that he would keep his "shoot to kill order" until the last day of his term if he was still alive by then. He also said that he did not believe in human rights. In a recent meeting with the US Secretary of State John Kerry, he said he refused to discuss the issue of human rights with him. Instead he said he had a job to do and asked for financial assistance.

Rodrigo Duterte has plenty of experience in politics as he was a popular mayor of the city Davao in the far south of the island of Mindanao for more than 22 years. He is the first Phiippine president from Mindanao. Although he was infamous for supporting extra-judicial killing of drug dealers and habitual users, he also promoted other ways of controlling drug use:Though vocally supportive of the extra-judicial killings of habitual drug users and dealers, Duterte used city government funds to build a ₱12-million drug rehabilitation and treatment center which provides 24-hour services. In 2003, he offered a ₱2,000 monthly allowance to drug addicts who personally approached him and committed to kick the habit.Duterte won a landslide victory in the presidential election in May and took office for a term of six years. Among his supporters are the Maoist New People's Army who have been waging guerrilla warfare against Philippine governments for half a century now. They hope to reach some type of peace agreement with him.

However, the unbridled unabashed defence of extra-judicial killing of criminals by Duterte, especially those involved in the drug trade, has outraged many including the Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Roman Catholic Church. Since Duterte took power about 800 people have been killed. In a homily this Sunday, Villegas condemned the latest killings he said:"I am in utter disbelief. If this is just a nightmare, wake me up and assure me it is not true. This is too much to swallow. From a generation of drug addicts, shall we become a generation of street murderers?"Villegas is president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Executive director Yury Fedotov of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime also expressed concern about the extrajudicial killing of drug dealers in the Philippines.

By Sunday local television reported that five mayors and three vice mayors from Mindanao denied Duterte's allegations but surrendered to police. One of judges on the list has been dead for eight years.