Reds warn peace unlikely soon

PHILIPPINE communist rebels waging one of Asia’s longest insurgencies said Tuesday a peace pact was likely not achievable before 2019, in a blow to the government’s hopes of securing a deal this year.

But the presidential adviser on the peace process, Jesus G. Dureza, in a statement on Tuesday assured “positive outcomes in the forthcoming resumption of peace negotiations in Rome on 19-25 January 2017 with the Communist Party of the Philippines [CPP]/New People’s Army [NPA]/National Democratic Front (of the Philippines) [NDFP].”

Mr. Dureza said this was regarded by government with “optimism, although with managed expectations.”

Ahead of fresh peace talks starting in Italy on Thursday, the NDFP also warned that forces on the ground were urging an end to a cease-fire as they became frustrated with the government’s “broken promises.”

“The NDFP goes into the third round of formal talks in Rome determined as always to persevere with the peace talks but increasingly troubled by the other party’s sincerity,” the communists’ chief negotiator, Fidel Agcaoili, said in a statement.

The communists have been waging their “national democratic revolution” since 1968 to overthrow a capitalist system that has created one of Asia’s biggest rich-poor divides.

At least 30,000 people have died in the conflict, according to the military. —