Continue peace talks with Reds, farmers urge govt

DAVAO CITY: Farmers fighting for genuine land reform on Sunday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to continue the peace talks with communist rebels after he scrapped the negotiations over a spate of deadly attacks by the insurgents in southern Philippines.

Duterte’s decision to abandon the negotiations with communist leaders came on Saturday barely a day after he terminated the with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who also ended earlier its own truce.

Since then, at least four soldiers had been killed by rebels in separate attacks and three more are being held prisoners in the troubled region.

The rebels demanded the release of some 400 political prisoners leaders – languishing in jails across - jected the demand, saying, a peace he could grant amnesty to political prisoners, although he had ordered the release from prison at least 21 senior rebel leaders to join the peace talks.

Duterte said he cannot free all political prisoners and claimed that such action may trigger unrest in the police and military. Peace talks and land reform But Joseph Canlas, chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, one of the biggest farmers’ organizations in the country, said the continuation of peace negotiations is in the best interest of farmers, who are pressing for genuine land reform, land distribution and real change under the Duterte administration.

“Farmers want the peace negotiations to continue. We want the peace talks to help address the problem of land monopoly, landlessness of farmers, unemployment and to realize the equitable distribution Canlas said.

“The peace negotiation is a separate and distinct track of struggle reforms. While the New People’s Army and President Duterte announced the termination of the unilateral interim ceasefires, it should not hinder the continuation of the talks that is gaining relevant developments with regard to discussions on the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, particularly agrarian reform and rural development,” he added.

Canlas said based on the reported outcome of third round of the peace talks in Rome recently, the government, in principle, acquiesced to free land distribution to farmers and farm workers and that alone is a milestone with regard to pushing for socio- economic reforms and enough grounds to continue the talks.

Pedro Arnado, leader of the farmers’ group in southern Mindanao, also urged Duterte not to abandon the peace talks, saying, the resumption of war with rebels may spark a series of illegal arrest and human rights violations, and even extrajudicial killings of civil- of social wealth,” ians by government soldiers.

“We call for the continuation of the peace talks and compliance to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law to avoid rights violations of civilians,” said Arnado, who noted that at least 20 farmers and national minorities period. “For us farmers, a just peace means food for our families, education for our children and recognition of our right to the land we till.”

Arnado said while the ultimate goal of the peace talks is to resolve - sation of hostilities, that wouldn’t be possible at this period when and interests. “Big land estates, haciendas and landholdings remain intact and under the control of a few landlord families. That is in contrast with the situation of millions of tillers,” Arnado said, adding, Duterte should realize that people in the countryside are supporting and even joining the armed revolution because of the systemic and chronic crisis that is worsened by the government’s failure to address the most basic problems in the rural areas.