By SHIELA MAE BUTLIG
Correspondent .
ACTIVISTS will host a two-day “peace summit” in the city starting today to tackle the Mindanao situation vis-à-vis the suspended peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front, the martial law declaration, and the fightings in outlying areas that have resulted in evacuations.
Jomorito Guaynon, chairperson of the tribal organization Kalumbay, said organizers were expecting different Mindanao leaders like Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri, and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate to join the gathering.
Kalumbay is an umbrella organization of tribal groups in northern Mindanao.
Guaynon said the participants were expected to draft and finalize a position paper, particularly on the peace negotiations.
“Sa atong kahimtang karon nga grabe ang kaguliyang sa nasud busa kinahanglan gyud i-resume ang peace talks,” Guaynon said.
According to Guaynon, the peace summit, to be held at Hotel Conchita, was organized by the human rights group Karapatan, and Sowing Seeds of Peace with support from the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Offensive
Duterte cancelled the scheduled resumption of peace negotiations to allow the military to continue with its all-out offensive against the New People’s Army until the end of 2018, the Communist Party of the Philippines said.
“By calling off the scheduled peace negotiations with the NDFP, Duterte aims to give the AFP more time to complete its military campaign plan for 2018 of mounting bigger offensives under Oplan Kapayapaan in the hope of crippling the NPA and inducing the NDFP to negotiate a surrender,” said the CPP.
On Thursday, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said Duterte cancelled the talks with the NDF in Oslo, Norway because government wanted to hold consultations with stakeholders before forging agreements with the revolutionary group.
Dureza said getting the inputs of stakeholders would ensure that the agreements would have the people’s support.
But the CPP called Duterte’s reason for cancelling the talks “a thin veil that fails to conceal his real aims.”
It claimed that the president’s decision came “after being briefed on the status of Oplan Kapayapaan” in a meeting with defense officials. It noted that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has publicly announced that the military wants three to six more months before the peace talks resume.
“Clearly, Duterte does not want the AFP’s military campaign plan disrupted by the peace talks,” the CPP added. (with reports from antonio colina iv, mindanews)
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