Holiday truce

EDITORIAL

It is but apt that communist rebels will put in effect a 12-day holiday truce from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 next year.The ceasefire is in solidarity with the Filipino people’s traditional celebration of Christmas and New Year, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiating panel chairman Luis Jalandoni said in a statement.

“This will also enable the revolutionary forces to carry out mass assemblies and public demonstrations to mark the 47th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines and celebrate revolutionary victories of the past year,” he said.

“The ceasefire is also in support of efforts of peace advocates to foster the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the NDFP,” Jalandoni said.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said a ceasefire during the Christmas season has been a tradition, although the government has yet to reciprocate the CPP’s declaration as of press time..

“Once the President, who is also our commander-in-chief, approves it (recommendation to observe a ceasefire), we will announce it so that our countrymen will know,” he said.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines hopes that the CPP and its armed unit, the New People’s Army, will strictly abide by this self-declared ceasefire and will live up to their promise of non-violent and peaceful holidays for the Filipino and their members.”

Jalandoni said the NPA would stop offensive military operations against the military and police during the ceasefire, and soldiers and policemen “who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions.”

“They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends,” he said.However, all NPA units and militias would remain on defensive mode, Jalandoni said.

They were ordered to “maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions or movements of the enemy armed forces,” he added.

Hostile actions include “peace and development,” “civil-military” and “peace and order” operations, Jalandoni said.

The ceasefire, once, reciprocated by government, would give a brief respite for people who are caught in the crossfire, particularly in remote countrysides.