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Wednesday, December 21, 2005
4 soldiers killed in latest NPA attack
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Suspected communist insurgents killed four soldiers in a daring broad daylight attack Tuesday at a busy market in the southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said three gunmen, believed members of the New People's Army (NPA), shot the soldiers at close range outside a market in Tagum City around 10:30 a.m.
One of the dead was Army Captain Marcelo Quitiquit, a military report said.
The four were about to board their van when the gunmen attacked in front of horrified civilians, said Major Gamal Hayudini, a spokesman for the Southern Command.
He said the gunmen also shot and wounded a woman who was with the soldiers and then fled, he said.
"The soldiers were in the market to buy food. And they (rebels) attacked and killed the four who were all helpless. We condemn the treacherous killings," he said.
The attack came at a time when government is planning to declare a unilateral Christmas truce to allow soldiers and rebels to celebrate the holiday with their families.
A rebel spokesman, NPA leader Gregorio Rosal, earlier said his group is ready to resume peace talks with Manila and declare a truce.
Rosal said they could resume the stalled talks as soon as President Gloria Macagapal-Arroyo agrees to return to the peace negotiations.
"We have submitted our proposals to the government peace negotiators and are ready to resume the talks. We are ready to declare a truce. We are only awaiting the government reply," Rosal said.
Peace talks have been suspended since August last year following the pullout of the rebels from the talks due to their continued inclusion in the terror lists of the United States and the European Union on Manila's prodding.
It was unknown how the latest attack would affect the government decision to declare a truce. The military said it recommended a two-day ceasefire with the NPA, but the Southern Command is opposing any truce, saying the rebels would never cease attacking government targets.
"You see what happened? This is the reason why we do not favor a truce with the NPA. They continue to attack military targets and kill innocent people," said Hayudini.
Hayudini said troops were also opposing any ceasefire and want a more drastic action against NPA forces.
On Friday, insurgents detonated a landmine in North Cotabato province, killing 11 soldiers who were on a medical mission, he said.
But Rosal defended the offensives, saying the military never stopped killing militant leaders and human rights activist throughout the country.
"Violations of human rights by the fascist military and its paramilitary forces continue unabated. This year saw record violations of human rights in the wake of the Marcos dictatorship," Rosal said.
Rosal earlier said the CPP is considering a truce, but the continued government offensives and killings of militant leaders and human rights activists do not provide favorable condition for it.
The NPA, armed wing of the CPP-NDF, is fighting the past three decades to topple the government and install a Maoist state in the country.
The rebels have vowed to step up attacks on government targets after Manila suspended safety and immunity guarantee for their negotiators following the collapse of the peace talks.
The NPA previously said it would only return to the peace negotiations if President Arroyo asks the United States and the European Union to strike the group off from their terror lists. (Al Jacinto of Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(December 21, 2005 issue)
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