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Philippine rebels burn school
[Straits Times] THE Philippine military on Sunday accused the country's communist guerrillas of burning a school to mark their 41st anniversary during a government ceasefire.Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner assailed the communist New People's Army (NPA) for burning a high school building in Catanauan town, east of the Philippine capital before dawn on Saturday. The attack came even though the government had called a Christmas ceasefire against the NPA lasting from December 24 to 26. 'We denounce this attack by the NPA. It only goes to show that they are really anti-development, anti-progress. They will even burn down a school,' he said. The communist insurgents had called a similar ceasefire but only lasting from December 24 to 25, Mr Brawner said. He dismissed the significance of the NPA attack, saying 'they are just trying to project strength but actually they are already a spent force.' The military has said that the NPA's manpower has fallen from a peak of more than 26,000 in early 1987, to below 5,000. Military officials are optimistic the group can be neutralised by 2010. Posted by: Fred 2009-12-28 |
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