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Sunday, December 28, 2003
Military says Christmas truce with NPA holding
THERE has been no major engagement or violation of self-imposed Christmas ceasefire declared by government and the communist-led New People's Army (NPA), according to Brig. Gen. Alexander Yano, commanding officer of the 601st Brigade.
"No blatant violations, so far," Yano said.
President Arroyo ordered military to suspend operations against the NPA beginning December 10.
The National Democratic Front (NDF), NPA's political wing, also declared a unilateral ceasefire effective December 16.
Both self-imposed cessation of hostilities will end in the first week of January.
Yano said there has been no reported encounter between military and NPA rebels in his area of responsibility during the ceasefire.
The 601st Brigade is deployed in Davao del Sur, Sarangani and South Cotabato, including the cities of General Santos, Digos and Koronadal.
Yano, however, wished that armed conflict between government and NDF would end.
"The seasonal Christmas truce could indefinitely extend throughout 2004 and beyond. Not just unilaterally by the government alone but by all sectors all working as one united Filipino nation moving forward towards enduring peace and stability," Yano said.
He said the decades-long armed conflict has sapped the country's energy and resources.
"We have had enough of bickering and internal strife," he said.
The NDF, however, declared there would be no formal peace talks next year.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - NPA also said the Arroyo administration would only use peace talks to project semblance of peace and stability in her government.
The rebel groups said they would wait until after the presidential election next year before entertaining offers for formal ceasefire negotiations with the newly elected president.
(December 24, 2003 issue)
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