(CNN Philippines, May 29) — Hours before the fifth round of peace talks between the government and communist rebels were supposed to happen in the Netherlands, the government backed out.
A statement from the Communist Party of the Philippines on Sunday said the declaration of martial law in Mindanao was one of the reasons why the latest round of talks bogged down.
But the government cited heightened offensives from the communist movement against the government troops as one reason for withdrawal.
Bello and Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza held a press conference in the Netherlands this morning announcing that they were standing by the decision not to participate in the fifth round of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples’ Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF).
They added, “There are no compelling reasons for us to change that decision that have been arrived at, and which we announced yesterday.”
Martial law was declared in Mindanao on May 23, following the clashes that erupted in Marawi earlier in the day.
A statement released by the CPP on Sunday said, “Prior to the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, the AFP has been carrying out intense armed offensives against the people and their revolutionary forces following the Duterte-Lorenzana declaration of “all-out war” against the NPA last February. Duterte has not rescinded this order.”
It added the operations have escalated since martial law was declared and civilians have been affected by government troops’ actions.
The CPP said they were left with little choice but to “undertake more and more tactical offensives in order to defend the masses and the people’s army by stopping the reactionary state armed forces from carrying out their onslaught.”
On Sunday, Secretary Silvestre Bello, chairman of the government peace panel, responded saying it was “not in keeping with the framework of the peace talks, and for both parties to provide an atmosphere conducive to the conduct of a peace negotiation.”
They however clarified that while the fifth round of talks was not going to push through, the peace process would still continue.
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines said they “vehemently deplore the GRP Panel’s decision not to participate in the fifth round of formal negotiations.”
They said, “The GRP’s decision not to participate in the 5th round of formal talks threatens to squander the goodwill and the gains that have already been achieved in the peace negotiations in the past nine months, especially in the crafting of a substantive agreement on social and economic reforms.”
Elizabeth Slattum, a special envoy of the Royal Norwegian government, said while this round of the peace talks will not take place, the peace process has not been cancelled.
Dureza expressed the same sentiment, saying, “The peace process continues…We will continue engaging those who wish to engage with us.”
CNN Philippines’ David Santos contributed to this report.
