Teodoro: NPAs still using land mines

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro accused the communist New People’s Army rebels of still using land mines and child soldiers in its attack on government troops, both of which are in violation of the Geneva Convention.

“They (NPA) are violating the law (Geneva Convention) by utilizing land mines and other (banned) explosives,” said Teodoro, who was in neighboring Lagawe, Ifugao Tuesday as guest of honor during the 63rd anniversary of the surrender of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, chief of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II here, which effectively ended the war in the country.

Teodoro accused the communist rebels of utilizing land mines in their attacks against government troops which, he said, are clear violations of the provisions of the Geneva Convention which ban the use of land mines and other deadly explosives.

The defense chief also scored the NPA for using minors as combatants, which, he said, is also strictly prohibited under international law.

Teodoro said that the communists have shown that their activities are clearly not for the people but only for their own political interest.

“They are unmasking their real motives. They are not really fighting for the people but (for) an alternative political platform with guns and private armies,” he said, adding that the communists here have already lost their attraction as their ideology has failed worldwide.

The fact that they are using banned explosives, he said, indicates that they are losing their battle to establish their own political platform in the country.

Teodoro’s statement was in reiteration of earlier remarks made by President Arroyo during a recent regional peace and security summit in Tuguegarao City during which she stressed that the rebels were engaging in terroristic activities in desperation since they are slowly losing the sympathy of the masses.

She had also earlier commended the Army’s Northern Luzon Command for its outstanding achievements and called on them to totally wipe out the rebels on, or before the end of her term in 2010.