Left asks Aquino: How about us?

A leader of the militant Left on Monday urged President Benigno Aquino to do for the communist rebels what he did for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and step in to revive the stalled peace negotiations with the insurgent group.

“P-Noy (Aquino) must intervene… if he is to uphold his vow to resume peace talks on (the) basis of (a) comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the conflict, with clear policies that will pave the way ahead,” Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo said in a text message.

Ocampo made the statement amid mounting pressure on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to return to the negotiating table in order to forge a peace pact with the government.

‘Bad blood’

Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said the framework agreement with the MILF should exert more pressure on the government-National Democratic Front (NDF) negotiators to come up with a deal, although “bad blood” between the Philippine Army and the NPA had made him pessimistic about this happening at all.

“The government’s civilian negotiators are trying very hard, but the army and the NDF are not willing to move forward. I doubt very much if there will be an agreement in the next year or so. I hope I’m wrong,” Bello said.

Ocampo stressed that the Left should not be blamed for the moribund peace talks with the government.

“The hitch stems from the government raising questions on previous agreements (already) mutually affirmed,” he said.

“The pressure to assiduously take steps to resume formal talks with the NDF is more on the government,” he added.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara said the signing of a framework agreement with the MILF should compel the Left to walk the same road to peace.

“Even worldwide events where former armed partisans have entered the mainstream of politics and even led governments may present alternative directions for the militant Left,” Angara said. –Gil Cabacungan, Philippine Daily Inquirer