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Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Editorial: Peace talks and terror tags
THE national government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People's Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) are set to conduct the peace talks sometime this week with the hope of ending the decades-long communist insurgency plaguing the country.
Among the priority targets are the CPP's demand that it be de-listed as a terrorist organization by the US and European Union---a task easier said than done even with the national government's plan to re-consider the terror label in order to push through the peace talks.
The de-classification is further compounded by the fact that the rebel movement is adamant in imposing its permit to campaign (PTC) fees in areas it claims to have control of, which is in defiance of constituted authority.
With that in mind plus the fact that the CPP-NPA's open denunciation of the US-led war against terrorism it would be interesting to note what grounds the national government would cite to justify the de-classification of the rebel movement from the international terror list.
Then again being a "close personal friend" of US President George Bush, President Arroyo may push all stops to have the CPP-NPA de-classified from the international terror list in order to jumpstart the peace process.
The de-classification stemmed from the observation that in the coming elections, the CPP-NPA have shown a modicum of support for Fernando Poe Jr., Sen. Loren Legarda and former Education Secretary Raul Roco for their sympathetic stance to their cause.
Arroyo and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, are being vigorously opposed owing to their pro-American stance.
It's likely the de-classification of the CPP-NPA is intended to appease them and somehow keep alive the peace talks and otherwise give the President one less headache to worry about as she gears up for the campaign which starts today.
Speaking of which the likelihood of the government talks with the CPP-NPA succeeding are nil because the differences are far too great to overcome let alone reconcile. Besides we all know what the rebels are really after.
In another front the government has to attend to its other peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which had been left hanging because of the group's alleged links with the Jemaayah Islamiyah (JI).
The group's de-classification from the terror list is thus far more difficult than that of the CPP-NPA. Which is a pity because compared to the other group the chances of forging a peace accord with the MILF are a lot better.
For one thing they're after their own land and are not out to conquer the whole country and impose their own brand of culture, religion and politics---at least that's how it appears so far.
Anyway the peace talks have barely begun and it's wise for now to lay off all bets until both parties have a chance to sit down and talk things over in some "neutral ground" these rebels have stipulated as a demand.
(February 10, 2004 issue)
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