Duterte ends truce with Maoist rebels

MANILA:

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday lifted a ceasefire with communist rebels, jeopardizing a peace process he launched last year to end a decades-long insurgency. The move comes two days after the Communist Party of the Philippines announced the end of its own selfdeclared ceasefire and claims by the military that Maoist fighters had killed six soldiers this week.

The communist insurgency in the Philippines, which began in 1968, is one of the longest running in the world and has claimed an estimated 30,000 lives, according to the military. “Because I have lost so many soldiers in just 48 hours, I think to continue with the ceasefire does not or will not produce anything,” Duterte said in a speech. “I really do not want to do this but if that is what the communists want, there is nothing I can do. So let’s fight. Let’s give it another 50 years.”

Duterte did not say whether the fourth round of peace negotiations set to start in the Norwegian capital Oslo in April would be stopped. Talks in Italy last week ended with no deal on a permanent cessation of fighting. A selfstyled socialist, Duterte said he was disappointed by the ceasefire decision because his administration had provided a “golden opportunity” to a reach a peace deal with the rebels.

The two sides separately declared ceasefires in August, and the informal arrangement largely held as they continued discussions in Rome. But the Communist Party said Wednesday it was ending its ceasefire and accused police and soldiers of human rights abuses in rebel-influenced rural villages. Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, General Eduardo Ano, welcomed Duterte’s announcement. —AFP