PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

XMAS TRUCE UNTENABLE - KA ROGER
December 6, 2002

The Communist Party of the Philippines today declared that it could not declare a ceasefire this Christmas season due to the Macapagal-Arroyo regime's outright puppetry and its fascist and antipeople measures.

In a statement, CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said that it is the US-Macapagal-Arroyo regime itself that has eliminated whatever basis there is for a ceasefire declaration this Christmas season.

"It has demonstrated outright puppetry and perpetrated such fascist and antipeople measures especially this past year", Rosal said.

Rosal cited the recent signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, the government's stepped up attacks on the people and the revolutionary movement and its intensified plunder. He said these have "caused the people unspeakable suffering making a ceasefire declaration this Christmas untenable".

"Macapagal-Arroyo herself has no regard for Christmas. She has expressed absolute lack of interest in having a serious ceasefire this Christmas season," Rosal added.

Rosal charged that the regime plans to launch intensified attacks on the revolutionary movement during the Christmas season.

"Christmas or not, the regime relentlessly goes on a rampage against the people and intensifies its all-out war against the revolutionary movement," Rosal added. "Ang gusto lang nito'y umatake nang umatake, pasko o hindi pasko."

Macapagal-Arroyo had earlier announced that she was not inclined to declare a Christmas truce so she would not lose momentum in her government's anti-insurgency campaign.

"There can be no ceasefire in the face of the Macapagal-Arroyo regime's relentless attacks," Rosal added.

"The regime plans to use the coming Christmas season to step up measures to malign, sow intrigues and launch armed attacks against the revolutionary movement. The regime's relentless attacks have effectively killed the ceasefire issue.

In a previous statement, Rosal cited their own intelligence reports claiming "the AFP plans to take advantage of a possible ceasefire declaration by the CPP to deploy more intelligence operatives and troops in suspected strongholds of the revolutionary movement."

The CPP has directed all NPA units and people living within guerrilla zones and bases to maintain a high level of alertness and resist military attacks and other repressive acts. ###

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553



Back to top