EDITORIAL - Talking peace

With a ceasefire in effect, the Communist Party of the Philippines marked its 33rd anniversary yesterday without the violence expected by government troops. Instead both sides announced that peace negotiations would resume next month. A report from the Netherlands said agreements on certain issues are likely to be signed during the talks. We can use some good news during the Christmas season, especially after a bomb threat in Makati and amid uncertainties about the economy.

There are those who wonder why the government still bothers to talk with a group whose ideology has been widely discredited. The few remaining communist countries such as Vietnam and Cuba are among the poorest in the world and are suffering under the boot of oppressive regimes. North Korea is grappling with famine and continues to suffer under a nutty despot. Pragmatic China is embracing the free market but continues to suppress human rights.

In the Philippines the communist movement has split into factions, and there are those who wonder how much of the movement the CPP under Jose Ma. Sison still commands. The movement’s armed component has degenerated into banditry, engaging in ransom kidnapping and extorting protection money from companies. Workers have lost their jobs as a result of companies shutting down due to these communist shakedowns, euphemistically called revolutionary taxation. For all their avowed enchantment with communism, the movement’s leaders aren’t rushing to migrate to North Korea or even China, but are instead seeking citizenship in the democratic Netherlands, a country liberal even by American standards of freedom.

Between announcing their ceasefire and its implementation, the rebels continued their attacks on government troops, and torched a bus belonging to a company that refused to give in to their extortion. Such actions leave little room for optimism in the peace talks that have been going on and off for nearly 16 years now. Still, it’s always better to talk than to shoot. Any progress in the government’s efforts to discuss peace should be welcome news. In the spirit of the season, let’s hope that the new year will finally herald a formal peace agreement with the communists.

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