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Southeast Asia
NPA weaponry is coming from MILF
2004-01-14
THE antitank weapons used by New People’s Army guerrillas who raided a power plant in Cala­ca, Batangas, on Saturday came from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, confirming the tactical alliance between the two rebel organizations, Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said on Tuesday. In an interview at Camp Agui­naldo, Ermita said military intelligence had long established that the milf has become one of the NPA’s arms suppliers. “These antitank weapons indicate that [the NPA] may have bought them from the secessionists in the South, because it is the Muslim secessionist group that has these weapons,” Ermita said.

Troops recovered two light antitank weapons left behind by the Calaca raiders. The Law, or the M72-series, is described as “a lightweight, self-contained, anti­armor weapon consisting of a rocket packed in a launcher.” Ermita said these weapons were leftovers from the Afghanistan War in 1995, in which several milf fighters trained and took part. Stressing the alliance between the NPA and the milf, Ermita said, “[The two groups] go by the dictum that the enemy of my friend is my enemy. Who is the common the enemy of the two groups? The Armed Forces of the Philippines.” Ermita has urged the milf leadership to stop supporting the NPA rebels “because it is destroying the atmosphere of peace.” Milf spokesman Eid "Lipless Eddie" Kabalu admitted that the milf has an existing alliance with the NPA but denied that it is supplying the guerrillas with antitank weapons. “Our alliance doesn’t include the sharing of weapons,” he said.
"No, no! Certainly not!"
“The alliance was forged merely to prevent our group and their group from clashes in areas where we both operate, particularly in Central Mindanao,” Kabalu said in an interview. Four soldiers were killed and six others were wounded before dawn Saturday when more than 50 NPA rebels stormed the National Power Corp. plant in Dancalao village, Calaca. Military intelligence also showed a delivery of an undetermined number of Laws on Mindoro Island in early 2003. Ermita suspects these were the same weapons used in the Calaca attack.

On December 23 the military monitored the landing of about 20 communist rebels in Balayan Bay, Batangas. The group reportedly came from Mindoro Island, a known bailiwick of NPA insurgents. Military troops were sent to the area to check but the operation was frozen when the government called a Christmas truce with the NPA. “Their operation was limited to small unit patrols and intelligence gathering as the government cease-fire had already started,” the declassified report said. “Likewise, sightings of armed communist terrorists also ceased perhaps due to the CPP unilateral cease-fire.”

Despite the Calaca attack, the government is determined to resume formal talks next month with the NPA and its political arm, the Communist Party of the Philippines. Details of the talks are being ironed out by both parties and the government of Norway, which is the third party facilitator. “This is a new source of momentum for our political and economic security,” President Arroyo said.
"We'll give them what they want. Maybe they'll leave us alone."
The chief government negotiator, Silvestre Bello 3rd, said the government is waiting for the National Democratic Front to sign the joint statement, which would pave the way for the resumption of talks. The NDF is the political umbrella of the CPP and the NPA. Bello said the NDF’s chief negotiator, Luis Jalandoni, had committed to signing the statement. “I have no reason to doubt his words,” he said. The talks are expected to resume either on the first or on the second week of February, and will be held either in Thailand or in Vietnam.
That'd be appropriate, wouldn't it? They can argue over the shape of the table for a year or so...
Eighty-six safe-conducts have been issued to officials of the communist negotiators, including Gregorio Rosal, CPP-NPA spokesman, who accused the government of stepping up its efforts to reopen the talks to attract votes for the May 10 national election. “The jasig [joint agreement on safety and immunity guarantee] is in effect. The 86 names submitted to the government are covered by the safe-conducts issued by the government,” Bello said. He warned that despite the safe-conducts, those who have them could still be arrested if a crime has been committed. “We had to know and we had to tell you that the jasig or safe-conduct pass is not a permit to commit an offense. It is intended only to provide unhindered passage to those involved in the peace talks. If you commit a crime, you can still be arrested,” Bello said.

The government panel noted that the terrorist label pinned by the US government and the European Union on the cpp-npa and its political consultant, Jose Maria Sison, would not hinder the negotiations. “They agreed to conduct the negotiations without any precondition,” Bello said. Part of the joint statement, according to Bello, pertains to the terrorist label. He said the government is prepared to deal with whatever the NDF proposes, which includes asking the US and EU to strike the NDF off the list of terrorist organizations. Last year an attempt to reopen talks with the NDF was halted after the group insisted that they be delisted first. But with the participation of the Norwegian government as a third-party facilitator, Bello said, “They are now eager to talk peace with us.”

Before the signing of the joint agreement, exploratory talks were held on October 9 and 10 and November 20 and 21 both in Oslo and on November 23 and 24 in Utrecht. The government hopes to reach a peace settlement with the communists before the May election. “If not, I think the fact that the present administration succeeded in putting back on track the peace process is already a major accomplishment of the Arroyo administration,” Bello said. Negotiations could continue until June, but Bello said the government would push for a marathon negotiation.
Posted by:Dan Darling

#1  "Nice People Around", as they say.
Posted by: mojo   2004-1-14 12:51:21 AM  

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