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Macapagal-Arroyo regime discards peace talks
Macapagal-Arroyo regime discards peace talks
The Macapagal-Arroyo regime has dissolved the GRP panels holding talks with the NDFP and the MILF, saying that the talks would continue through back channels and would be conducted by emissaries. Two weeks before, the regime suspended formal peace talks with the MILF. It had already suspended formal peace talks with the NDFP as early as last year, insisting on maintaining back channel negotiations only.
The NDFP has made it clear that back channel talks "cannot replace the serious hard work carried out by the negotiating panels, their subcommittees, consultants and staff". NDFP peace panel chair Luis Jalandoni said that with its refusal to recognize past agreements with former regimes, the Macapagal-Arroyo regime has effectively discarded the peace talks. He said that Macapagal-Arroyo "shows no interest to engage in peace talks that address the roots of the armed conflict". Instead, said Jalandoni, "she calls for capitulation and threatens to all-out war". Jose Ma. Sison likewise said that "Macapagal-Arroyo pretends to be for peace negotiations, yet she unleashes brutal campaigns of suppression".
On March 16, Malaca�ang demanded that the NDFP and MILF give up their arms and surrender to the government. At the same time, the regime also brusquely warned the NDFP and MILF that it would use all its power against them should the two organizations refuse to desist from their supposedly terrorist and criminal attacks against government forces.
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 March 2002
English Edition
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Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and standpoint on current issues.
AB comes out fortnightly. It is published originally in Pilipino and translated into Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.
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