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Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Gov't unseats peace negotiator with communist rebels
* Jolo clash won't affects talks with MILF, Bunye says
MALACANANG said Tuesday that Silvestre Bello III, government peace panel chairman in negotiations with communist rebels, will be replaced and appointed as chairman of the Philippine National Oil Company-Development Management Corp. (PNOC-DMC).
Press secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye made the announcement following reports that Bello would be replaced for being "too soft" on the rebels.
Sources have confirmed reports that former labor secretary Ma. Nieves Confesor has been chosen as the new head of the government panel but she is still waiting for her appointment papers.
Confesor has reportedly been involved in the peace panel, although informally, since July 2004.
Bello refused to comment on the issue saying it is "crucial to the peace talks."
The new panel will reportedly also include newspaper columnist Paulyn Sicam, former Lakas spokesperson Anabelle Abaya, Rene Sarmiento, and Sedfrey Candelaria. Sarmiento has been a panel member since the early 1990s while Candelaria served as legal consultant.
Bunye maintained that a ceasefire between government and the New People's Army (NPA) would be "conducive to holding peace talks."
He said the loss of lives can be prevented "if armed conflicts could just be turned into clashes of the mind and will under a peaceful democratic process".
He also said the insurgency problem has been one of the major stumbling blocks to development in the countryside.
"Through a principled peace process, we can be partners with our ideological foes in bringing more jobs, more and better schools, electrification and ample food to every Filipino family - under a common agenda of urgent change," he said.
Presidential chief of staff Norberto Gonzales said government is asking for a ceasefire, not the NPA's surrender, and that the rebels should not immediately reject it.
"The government does not seek an end to the peace negotiations with the NDF. Neither is the demand for a ceasefire based on the capitulation or surrender of the revolutionary movement," Gonzales said.
He said the communist movement should consider "parliamentary struggle" instead of "armed struggle" in seizing state power. He said the ceasefire demand is also government's gauge to see if communist organization and its armed wing is ready to pursue peaceful negotiations.
Meanwhile, Bunye said the clash in Jolo between government troops and loyalists of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) Governor Nur Misuari will not affect peace talks with the MILF.
Bunye said President Arroyo has ordered the Armed Forces to stand its ground and deal with the Misuari loyalists and their MILF breakaway supporters.
"This is a breakaway group and we're talking to the mainstream group and this mainstream group is interested in maintaining peace talks," he said, adding that the mainstream MILF has no control over the breakaway group.
He said the clash would have the reverse effect of what Misuari's supporters wanted, which is for him to be returned to Sulu. (RB)
(February 9, 2005 issue)
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