PRESS RELEASE
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

Not ceasefire, but cessation of all-out war of terror against civilians - CPP
December 10, 2002

The Communist Party of the Philippines today decried Malacanang for its "cheap act of pretending to want a ceasefire while actually intensifying offensive military operations".

In a statement released to the media, CPP Spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal asserted that "more than a ceasefire, what the people really want for this Christmas season is a cessation of the all-out war of terror against civilians".

Rosal was reacting to the Malacanang statement that it was still studying the proposal for a ceasefire and calling on the CPP to have a "change of heart".

Rosal claimed that since Macapagal-Arroyo declared an all-out war last August, "state violence and human rights abuses have been on the rise especially in Mindoro, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Central Visayas, Northern and Western Mindanao".

"Gloria is becoming more like Marcos in terms of her record of human rights violations", Rosal added.

The CPP spokesman also belied the claims of Malacanang that the New People's Army is going to intensify attacks this December.

"While the CPP has not declared a ceasefire, the NPA remains generally on the defensive and will act only in response to threats and offensive actions of the AFP," Rosal said. "We shall strive to maintain peace in the guerrilla zones this Christmas by resisting the regime's campaign of suppression and terror."

Earlier, Rosal announced the decision of the CPP leadership not to declare a ceasefire this December because "the regime has demonstrated outright puppetry and perpetrated such fascist and antipeople measures especially this past year".

In his statement, Rosal asserted that "Christmas or not, the regime relentlessly goes on a rampage against the people and intensifies its all-out war against the revolutionary movement." ###

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



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