Reds told: Stop using landmines or no peace talks

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Duterte warned communist rebels yesterday that the government will pull out of peace talks scheduled in Oslo, Norway from Aug. 20 to 27 if the New People’s Army (NPA) continues to use landmines against the military.

He issued the ultimatum in a speech at dawn at the Naval Far Eastern Mindanao at Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command headquarters in Camp Panacan, Davao City at the wake of four soldiers killed last Thursday and Friday in the hinterlands of Monkayo in a series of NPA attacks using landmines.

“I am issuing this ultimatum today, right now. I am exasperated,” he said. “If would hear one more explosion, I would really pull out the government negotiating panel and there will be no more peace talks.

“It is either you stop it or we stop talking. You must decide now.”

Duterte said the issue on the use of landmines must be tackled if peace negotiations would be pursued.

“I am not pleading this time,” he said.

“That’s an ultimatum. I hear another explosion killing people, not only soldiers, killing people, no talks, I’m sorry. I will really ask the peace panel to come home.”

Duterte condoled with the relatives of the slain soldiers: Corporals Gilmar Mapa, Rolen Roy Sarmiento, Jimmy Bayta Jr. of the 25th Infantry Battalion and Cpl. Roel Mangaoang of the 75th Infantry Battalion.

He said the soldiers were killed in cold blood after they were wounded in the landmine attack.

“This war has been going on for 45 years,” he said.

“If you do not stop using landmines, then be prepared for another 45 years of war. I will order the Armed Forces of the Philippines to also use explosives and landmines against you. Government has lots of money to buy explosives. Then we will go to war against you.”

Duterte said the NPA has been using landmines in attacking military vehicles, especially in the hinterlands, which also carry the families of the soldiers who live inside military camps.

“You have always invoked the Geneva Convention on the use of landmines if you get the upper hand, now government will also use the same Geneva Convention in going after you,” he said.

Duterte said he had previously denied the request of the Department of National Defense for 20,000 more troops because of lack of budget, but that he might change his mind if the NPA would like to have war.

“But if this (war) is what you want, then I might as well give the department the additional men they need,” he said.

He might have to sacrifice medicines and food for the poor in waging that war, he added.

Duterte said he has seen enough and has accommodated requests from rebels, including the burial of their leaders in his 40 years as a government official.

“You are the very first to cry foul when something goes wrong,” he said. “You have sued many soldiers, under the Geneva Convention, in the handling of prisoners. But (you chose to disregard) one of the important and maybe very humane provision – the ban against the use of landmines. I thought we are following the Geneva Convention. Would you like (me to) also order the Armed Forces to use landmines against you? Which is which?”

Duterte said he is willing to wait until last night in Davao City for word from communist rebels before issuing orders to the military to launch an offensive.

“You would need to decide now,” he said.

“Do we use landmines? Because if we do, I will order the Armed Forces to prepare the explosives, also ordnance, against you to even the playing field.”

Just over a month into his six-year term, Duterte said he has kept his silence on the rants of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.

“But this cannot go on, this crazy thing about – the face is gone because of the landmine,” he said. “And this has been going on for 45 years. What have you actually given to the Philippines? You cannot even hold a barangay. Influence? Yes. Why?”

Duterte said communist rebels were only able to influence communities because of guns, not for anything else.

He had earlier cancelled a weeklong unilateral ceasefire with the NPA last week after the Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front (CPP/NDF) failed to reciprocate within his 24-hour deadline that ended last July 30.

Communist rebels insisted that they would declare their own unilateral ceasefire on Aug. 20 when the formal peace talks resume.

The CPP/NDF also demanded that all political detainees be released before any peace talks would resume.