Gov't accuses leftist rebels of turning blind eye on call for peace

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government accused today the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army- National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) of turning a blind eye to the call of the people for a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict following an ambush that the rebels allegedly perpetrated against the police elite force.

Government peace panel head Alexander Padilla said that the government strongly condemns the killing by the NPA of seven members of the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force and wounding of eight others in a landmine blast and ambush by the guerrillas in Allacapan, Cagayan Valley, Monday morning.

"By its insistence on using landmines and its insistence on continuing a regime of violence instead of talking peace, the NPA turns a blind eye to the clamor of our people for a peaceful resolution of the armed conflict," he said.

Padilla stressed that the use of landmines by the NPA is a gross violation of the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity as well as the Ottawa Protocol banning the use of landmines.

The official vowed that the peace panel will continue seeking avenues for talking peace that will result in the decrease or prevention of NPA atrocities.

The NPA has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.

The peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDF, the armed wing of the CPP-NPA, have bogged down since February this year and the Aquino administration is looking for a new approach to resolve the over four decades armed struggle with the leftist rebels.