CPP/NPA hopes for truce

THE Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is hoping that President Rodrigo Duterte will declare an indefinite ceasefire to reciprocate the seven-day truce declared by the CPP/ NPA.

“Hopefully, the President can issue proclamation soon after the resumption of peace talks in order to encourage the CPP to expeditiously issue its declaration of interim ceasefire during the course of the peace negotiations," the CPP statement read.

The statement said the issue of “interim ceasefire” is among the top items in the peace talks which started yesterday in Oslo, Norway.

But while recognizing President Duterte’s efforts to boost the peace talks, the CPP also expressed concern over particular provisions of the operation guidelines reissued by the Armed Forces.

In these guidelines, the AFP chief-of staff orders troops to continue with so-called “peace and development” operations under the Oplan Bayanihan.

According to CPP, these operations, such as those carried out in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, have been used in the past to justify the militarization of communities in the guerrilla zones and to carry out surveillance and harassment operations against community activists and leaders whom the AFP suspected of being NPA members.

“Hopefully, the President can consider ordering specific units of the AFP to be withdrawn from their detachments inside civilian communities to bolster the people’s trust in the President’s determination to pursue the path of peace” the statement read.