General Esperon's ceasefire proposal is mere propaganda

Luis G. Jalandoni

Chairperson

Negotiating Panel

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

July 17, 2007



Manila---General Hermogenes Esperon speaks with a forked tongue. He pretends to be for the resumption of peace talks but says his recommendation is "to crush the insurgency in forms of peace and negotiation." So, his proposal for a three-year ceasefire as a precondition for the resumption of formal talks is mere cheap propaganda.

The NDFP is open to start exploratory talks aimed at addressing and resolving the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, forced displacement of over a million people by GRP military operations, the unjust "terrorist listing" of the CPP, the NPA and the NDFP Chief Political Consultant and other prejudicial questions rightfully raised by the NDFP.

Such exploratory talks should aim at coming up with a joint statement of principles taking into consideration the NDFP Proposal of the Concise Agreement for an Immediate Just Peace. This would be an important step towards accelerated negotiations on the fundamental economic, social and political reforms for the benefit of the people. Such negotiations could be attended by a ceasefire.

General Hermogenes Esperon does not care to address the root causes of the armed conflict. He shows utter disrespect for GRP-NDFP peace agreements which stipulate addressing the roots of the armed conflict through fundamental economic, social and political reforms before coming to a prolonged ceasefire or cessation of hostilities.

He wants only the pacification of the revolutionary movement.

General Esperon continues to be in total self-denial about the extrajudicial killings which UN Special Rapporteur Prof. Philip Alston has declared "are convincingly attributed to the AFP". His false claim that these killings are done by the revolutionary movement only shows his duplicity. ###



REFERENCE:

Ruth de Leon

Executive Director

NDFP International Information Office

Tel.+31-30-2310431

Fax +31-84-7589930

Email: ndf@casema.nl