Peace problems
| AN OUTSIDERS VIEW |
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| Ken Fuller |
Although formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) are due to recommence this month, the process is not without its problems.
After President Aquino ordered the release of the Morong 43, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano speculated that the insurgency could end in 2011, as due to Aquino’s actions “we can see light at the end of the tunnel.”
It is doubtful whether there is unanimity on this within the Maoist movement. On Dec. 15, 10 soldiers died in a New People’s Army (NPA) ambush in Northern Samar. True, this was a day before the commencement of the Christmas ceasefire, but the signal sent by the incident was hardly encouraging.
When, in July last year, the newly-elected Aquino called on the NDF to resume negotiations, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison responded: “I have… gone so far as to propose a concept of immediate truce and alliance on the basis of a mutually acceptable declaration of principles and policies upholding national independence and democracy, confronting the basic problems of the Filipino people and adopting effective measures of social, economic and political reforms.”.... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110201com5.html
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