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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Gov't told: Go to Netherlands to get Army officer
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Communist rebels holding captive an Army officer said the government should negotiate with the National Democratic Front (NDF) in the Netherlands to save First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo.
Cammayo reportedly surrendered to a New People's Army (NPA) unit following a fierce encounter in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley early this month.
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In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said the group has been calling on the Arroyo government "to discuss with revolutionary authorities the safe and orderly release of Cammayo."
The rebel group said: "Representatives of the government should approach the NDFP office in The Netherlands to discuss terms for negotiating the release of the prisoner of war."
NDF is the political umbrella of the CPP-NPA.
However, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Alexander Yano said he is leaving the matter to the civilian authorities. He reiterated though the AFP's "no negotiation policy" with communist rebel groups.
"Negotiating with (them) would embolden them and perpetuate their atrocious acts. We will never negotiate with terrorists," Yano said in a text message.
He added: "This is one of the harsh realities in combat that all your soldiers have learned to accept."
Yano also said the military will "exhaust all possibilities" to get back Cammayo alive.
Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon, meanwhile, said the Philippine government will call for a halt to recent attacks by communist rebels that have killed more than 100 civilians and soldiers during a proposed resumption of Norwegian-brokered peace talks.
Esperon said government negotiators will also reiterate a demand that the 5,000-strong NPA agree to a ceasefire and stop attacks on foreign mining companies.
"It's really hard to talk when you could not even agree to have a ceasefire," Esperon said.
The rebels have spurned similar calls in the past, saying any truce with government troops before a peace agreement is concluded would be tantamount to surrender of their 40-year insurrection.
The rural-based Maoist insurgents have stepped up attacks across the Philippines, targeting police and soldiers to seize weapons and foreign mining companies and other big businesses to extort funds.
They backed out of peace talks brokered by Norway in 2004, saying the Philippine government instigated their inclusion on US and European terrorist blacklists. Norway, on the other hand, has been trying to revive the process by arranging "exploratory talks."
But while the government intends to demand inclusion of discussion on a wave of rebel atrocities in the last 10 months -- including 104 killings, 66 arson attacks, 14 kidnappings, 10 bombings, five robberies and four land mine blasts -- the communist rebels have demanded the suspension of military operations, particularly in Compostela Valley, before negotiations could take place, especially for the release of Special Forces officer Cammayo.
"We urge the Armed Forces of the Philippines to cease military operations in Monkayo and adjacent areas which may endanger the life of the POW (prisoners of war) and deter negotiations for his possible release," said the CPP.
The Medardo Arce Command of the NPA earlier admitted having Cammayo in the custody of its sub-regional unit, the Alejandro Lanaja Command-Front 3 Command of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the CPP-NPA, after several days of silence.
The Army officer was leading a team of 14 government Special Forces unit when they encountered heavily armed communist rebels in the hamlet of Anagase in Casson, Monkayo.
Three government soldiers were also killed during the gun battle.
The CPP-NPA has captured and released several Army officers and enlisted men before; among them is the high-profile seizure of Army general (now retired), Victor Obillo.
Obillo, former commanding officer of the AFP's 55th Engineering Battalion, was seized by the Medardo Arce Command along with his aide Captain Eduardo Montealto, while inspecting a government project in Davao City in April 1999.
Obillo was later released after several weeks of negotiations in the presence of the International Red Cross and upon the intercession of Senator Loren Legarda who flew to Utrecht, The Netherlands and negotiated with the NDF for the release of the two Army officers. (Edwin G. Espejo/AP/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex) For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (November 19, 2008 issue)
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