NPA violates Yule ceasefire

MANILA, Philippines - The military reported yesterday an apparent violation of the 19-day holiday truce with communist rebels with a slay try on a member of a paramilitary group in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. said a certain Larry Bustamante, a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit, was fired upon by 12 rebels in Barangay Humay Humay last Monday but was able to escape unscathed.

“He (Bustamante) was ambushed while on his way home to Sitio Pulangi, Barangay Humay Humay,” Mabanta said.

“He was fired (upon) by 12 heavily armed communist terrorists. What he did was he was able to return fire and as such escaped unscathed,” he said.

1Lt. Mark Posadas, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the incident happened at around 7:45 p.m. Monday, four days after the government and the rebels declared a yuletide ceasefire last Dec. 16.

The shooting in Negros Oriental was the first violation of the Christmas truce, according to the military.

Mabanta said they would refer the incident to the authorities monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire. He also urged the leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to order its armed wing to observe the truce.

“It is important that the intention of the leadership at the highest level is cascaded, or is translated for implementation at the lower level,” Mabanta said.

“We doubt if their intention is translated or is performed in the units in the field. Remember that this organization is a loose organization and not all of the things that we want done are implemented at the lowest level,” he said.

Mabanta said he believes the CPP is sincere in upholding the ceasefire.

“We feel the sincerity is still there, especially at the highest level. However, they may have no definite control over the lowest level,” he said.

The ceasefire was in preparation for formal peace negotiations in February. The holiday ceasefire, said to be the longest in 10 years, is in effect until Jan.3. Formal peace talks have been set tentatively in Oslo, Norway on Feb. 19-25.

Military forces have been placed in a defensive mode, meaning they can fight back if attacked.

The nearly four-decades old Maoist insurgency has already claimed the lives 40,000 people.

The government had tried to hold negotiations with the CPP but these efforts failed in 2004 after the United States and the European Union placed the group on their list of terror organizations.

Talks between the government and the insurgents had been set in Oslo, Norway last year, but did not push through after the government rejected the rebels’ demand for the release of some of their consultants in detention for criminal offenses.