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Bohol ex-rebs ask govt…Offer peace to rebel ranks, isolate leaders

Written by admin on 25 April 2008

JUST as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pressed anew Congress to affirm the government’s amnesty proclamation, communist rebel returnees in Bohol also urge the government to continue localized peace talks.

With Congressional concurrence, communist rebels who are still hopelessly clinging to their lost cause can rejoin mainstream society and live in peace soonest.

On the other hand, with localized peace talks, the government can isolate top communist leaders to reconsider the government peace offer.

Former Bohol red fighter Bernard Banal has formally asked Presidential Assistant Felix Guanzon to keep the government’s offer for peace talks open to the rebels who are still fighting a lonely war.

Banal, now a government partner in reform is echoing the sentiments of his former comrades who have finally decided to walk the way of peace.

The Banal formula defies the Communist Party of the Philippines New People’s Army National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) official stand of rejecting localized peace talks while only the top communist leaders are to negotiate with the government of the Republic of the Philippines on matters of peace agreements.

Guanzon, the President’s assistant for the Visayas accompanied the Royal Norwegian Government Facilitation Team in a visit to Bohol recently to visit rebel returnees and assess the localized government’s initiatives of peace for the communist rebels.

Banal, who has touted as key movement propagandist and indoctrinator said top communist leadership could be left without influence if disgruntled fighters leave them and start talking peace in their levels.

Isolating the top leaders would render them powerless and without the support of the local movement anymore, they would be forced to accept the government’s terms, he explained to Guanzon in Cebuano.

This as the President continued to press for the Congressional nod to the government amnesty proclamation while visiting Negros recently.

“(Kaya) nanawagan tayo sa Kongreso na sana i-confirm na nila itong ating amnesty proclamation na magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makabalik muli sa lipunan itong ating mga kapatid na galing sa loob ng kilusan,” the President said in her brief message.

Congressional confirmation of her amnesty proclamation would enable the communist rebels to rejoin society and live with their loved ones again, the President said.

She pointed out that aside from the rebel returnees she has met, many more rebels in Negros Oriental and other parts of the country have expressed their willingness to surrender their arms and end their rebellion but are waiting for Congress to affirm the amnesty proclamation.

In Bohol alone, some 185 rebel returnees have risked getting hailed in court for acts committed while in the movement. The decision to peaceably settle for good and avail of the informal offer for peace at the local levels ahs finally allowed them to rejoin society.

But without the amnesty, there is still no real assurance that they would be given total absolution from any criminal offenses while in the movement, local officials also claimed.

The rebels have expressed apprehension that once they give up their armed struggle and rejoin society, they would be charged with rebellion and other criminal complaints. (rachiu/PIA)

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