In Indonesia, a power plant impasse and a faltering president. NPA defers release of captured cops. DAVAO CITY – The scheduled release today of three abducted members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Surigao del Norte was cancelled by the National Democratic Front (NDF) Northeastern Mindanao Region (NDF-NEMR). In a statement, the NDF-NEMR said the cancellation of the release was due to the refusal of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to temporarily withdraw their operatives in the area where the release is scheduled to take place. The rebels added that the temporary withdrawal of military troops was meant for a safe and orderly release of the captured cops and to avoid possible encounter between the government soldiers and the New People’s Army (NPA).
The NDF-NEMR was demanding the pullout of AFP troops in Barangays Sico-sico and Camamonan in Gigaquit town, Surigao del Norte. The police officers were captured by NPA rebels in the area in two separate occasions in November 12 and 16 last year. (Alexander D. Related NPA frees 2 captured soldiers December 22, 2014 comments. NPA leader captured at checkpoint. Military intelligence reports have identified Dominicano D. Muya, who goes by the aliases Marco and Atoy, as a former staff member of the NPA’s Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee and present staff member of the Southern MIndanao Regional Party Committee.
Mr. Muya had also reportedly served the latter committee as secretary of Guerrilla Front 18. Capt. Found in Mr. Mr. Authorities have a P4.8-million cash reward for Mr. Maj. Earlier this year, government forces captured Benito and his wife Wilma Tiamzon in Cebu City, a week before the NPA’s 45th anniversary on March 29. -- A.M. 5 killed in Philippines mine attack | News24 - Pale Moon. Manila - Communist insurgents attacked a major mining company in the central Philippines, killing five soldiers and burning equipment and buildings the military said on Saturday, as hopes for peace dimmed further. The attack came just days after the chief government peace negotiator said talks with communist rebels had collapsed, ending hopes of achieving peace after a 44-year insurgency before President Benigno Aquino's term ends in 2016.
Fighters of the New People's Army (NPA) attacked the Philex Mining site on the island of Negros, burning two bunkhouses and heavy equipment on Friday, said military spokesperson Captain Leo Christopher Cunanan. The military pursued the attackers leading to a clash on Saturday that left five soldiers dead and two others wounded, Cunanan said in a statement.
The rebels took six firearms from the fallen soldiers, the captain said. No spokesperson for Philex, the Philippines' largest gold miner, could be contacted for comment. Violence intensifies. Southern Mindanao is NPA’s new ‘epicenter’ DAVAO City—The Philippine Army has trained its guns on the Southern Mindanao region, which it describes as the country’s new “epicenter” of communist insurgency. Twelve of the 23 New People’s Army (NPA) guerrilla fronts in Mindanao are based in the three Davao provinces and Compostela Valley, said data released by the 10th Infantry Division based here. These fronts have a combined force of 800 guerrillas. NPA rebels from some of these fronts even operate in nearby Caraga region, which is made up of the two Agusan and two Surigao provinces; parts of Central Mindanao, specifically North Cotabato; and parts of Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao region, the Army data added.
Some of them may even have actually participated in the October 3 raid by the NPA on three mining companies in Claver, Surigao del Norte, a military source, who declined to be identified for lack of authority, said. Caro said these attacks showed that the NPA remains very active in the region. Shock and awe Outreach.
Philippines sends troops to protect candidates. MANILA - The Philippines deployed hundreds of extra troops as it vowed Wednesday to protect candidates for next month's mid-term elections after communist guerillas ramped up armed attacks. The New People's Army (NPA) was attacking "soft targets", including politicians, to blackmail them into paying for "permits" to campaign without guerrilla interference, said President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda.
"You want to challenge us? Go ahead make our day," Lacierda said, directly mocking the 4,000-strong NPA, as he announced the deployment of an additional 500 marines to the country's south. To the candidates, he said: "There is only one armed forces and we will protect you. " The Maoist guerrilla group ambushed Ruth Guingona, the 78-year-old mayor of Gingoog city on the southern island of Mindanao on Saturday, killing two of her aides and leaving her and two policemen wounded. Guingona belongs to Aquino's Liberal Party, and is married to a former vice president.
Her son is a senator. WikiLeaks cable: Gaddafi funded, trained CPP-NPA rebels | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features. MANILA, Philippines - Libyan strongman Moammar Gaddafi was a key financier of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its military wing, the New People's Army (NPA), according to a US Secretary of State secret cable published by anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks. The Libyan government gave at least $7 million to the CPP-NPA in a 5-year period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to cable dated November 14, 1991.
The cable, one of the earliest on WikiLeaks' archives that discussed the Philippines, tackled the indictment of Libyan officials for the bombing of PAN AM Flight 103 in 1998. The memo said Libya's support for terrorist groups was extensive worldwide, and allowed militants to train in Libyan camps. The cable said Libya provided funding to the CPP-NPA and other groups by directly giving money to militants who trained in the North African country. "Trainees from Asia, Latin America, and Africa often go to Libya legally, usually pretending to be students. {*style:<b> </b>*} UN body: PHL rebels agree not to use child warriors - Nation.
Leaders of rebel groups have agreed to cooperate with United Nations officials to pursue measures to put a stop on the use of children in various situations of armed conflicts in the Philippines. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, said the UN body is eying to rehabilitate thousands of children affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) alone.
She said the communist-led National Democratic Front did not categorically say if they are using child fighters but the NDF acknowledged that this particular issue is a “problem. " “With regards to the MILF, we agreed to accelerate the process of registering children, to impose a nine-month time line for the actual registration. After the nine-month period, we will work towards a period of reintegration and rehabilitation of these children," she said. But she said they are expecting that a "[few] thousands" would register with the program in the next nine months. Peace with Reds seen in 18 months. MANILA, Philippines? Peace in 18 months? After holding landmark talks in Oslo, Norway, prospects for peace between the government and communist rebels have become better and the two sides are aiming to forge a peace agreement in 18 months, according to chief government negotiator Alex Padilla. ?
After six full days of discussion, and following an impasse of more than six years, it is my privilege to report to our people that prospects for peace have become better,? Said Padilla, who spoke to reporters Tuesday via video conference from Oslo arranged by Malacañang. Following the first round of the long-stalled negotiations, the government and the communists issued the Oslo Joint Statement, dated Feb. 21, in which they committed to try and sign a ? Comprehensive agreement? 18-month time frame ? Norwegian facilitator Ture Llundh said setting a timetable with milestones was progress in itself. ? ? The two sides agreed to meet again in April and every two months after that. Hague Declaration ? ? ? ? ? NPA rebels vow attacks ahead of talks | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features. MANILA, Philippines - Communist rebels in the Philippines vowed on Tuesday to launch attacks against the military and companies that rejected extortion demands, ahead of a planned resumption of peace talks this month.
Arman Guerrero, a spokesman for the New People's Army's (NPA) political front, said all cadres were to launch the attacks after an 18-day Christmas ceasefire with government officially ended at midnight Monday. "Starting today... all members of the revolutionary movement... must launch tactical offensives to punish human rights violators," Guerrero said. The NPA typically accuses the Army of massive human rights abuses to justify their attacks, although Guerrero said companies who "do not follow the rules and policies" in its areas of influence were also fair game. The NPA has been known to demand illegal "revolutionary taxes" from mining and logging firms that operate in remote areas under its sway, as well as from local politicians.
CPP welcomes new peace overtures but reminds gov’t of past agree. Peace efforts between the government and communist rebels took another important step forward Saturday after the Communist Party of the Philippines welcomed the newly-installed Aquino administration's peace overtures. But the CPP reminded the Aquino government to commit itself to all previous agreements reached by both sides in the last 20 years. "To resume and push forward the peace negotiations, the Aquino government needs to commit itself to all previous agreements, including The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 which set the guiding principles, framework, agenda and procedures for the talks, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL)," the CPP said in a statement on its website.
It noted that presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles had said the government is committed to working for a "negotiated settlement" of the armed conflict. “Mr. AFP to draw up wish list. Military, Reds declare ceasefire | The Philippine Star >> News >> Headlines. MANILA, Philippines - In celebration of its century of excellence in language and literary scholarship, the University of the Philippines (UP) Department of English and Comparative Literature (DECL), in cooperation with the World Theatre Project, presents its centennial offering Screen: Macbeth, a unique interpretation of one of William Shakespeare’s classic plays.
Under the direction of world-renowned DECL alumnus Dr. Anton Juan, Jr., on sabbatical from University of Notre Dame du Lac, and dramaturgy by Dr. Judy Celine Ick, a professor at the DECL and the Philippines’ foremost Shakespeare scholar, the play promises an intellectually-grounded, truly Filipino version of an old stage classic that will captivate today’s multimedia-oriented audiences. The Porter, as portrayed by Ricky Abad Screen: Macbeth merges live performance with film, and depicts the tension between the “real” self and the self as projected on and through various media.
Philippines and communist rebels in Oslo for talks. 15 February 2011Last updated at 15:52 A ceasefire between government troops and the CPP is in effect for the week-long closed-door talks Peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels have resumed in Norway, more than six years after the last round broke down. The negotiations near Oslo are aimed at ending the 42-year insurgency, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Talks got under way just hours after the arrest of a top guerrilla leader. Allan Jazmines, a member of the central committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was charged with murder and rebellion, officials said. The CPP and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA), have been fighting for more than 40 years. About 4,700 NPA rebels continue to fight, mainly in the poorest areas of the Philippines. For more than 25 years, successive Philippine administrations have held peace talks with the rebels via their Netherlands-based political arm, the National Democratic Front. Undermine progress. 2 killed as suspected NPA rebels attack Agusan checkpoint - Regions - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News.
BUTUAN CITY — Bad weather failed to discourage suspected communist rebels to attack a forest product revenue monitoring checkpoint in Agusan del Sur early morning Tuesday, killing two civilian volunteers and wounding two policemen. Police suspect the attackers were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Front Committee 20 operating in Northern Mindanao. Reports reaching the Caraga Police Regional Office identified the fatalities as Fritz Dimzon, 20, and Carlito Tumandang, 39, both civilian volunteers assigned at the checkpoint located at Barangay Pulang Lupa in Trento town. The wounded police personnel, on the other hand, were identified as PO3 Jorge Sabating and PO3 Mario Savellano.
The report said the attack lasted for 15 minutes after which the rebels fled to unknown direction. The attack occurred as the police in the region were busy assisting victims of the floods and landslides that recently ravaged the province due to days on end of nonstop rain. The NPA is the armed wing of the CPP. Suspected NPA leader slain in Mindoro encounter | ABS-CBN News | CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna—A suspected leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in a firefight between the rebels and government troops in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro late Thursday, Army officials said. Lt.Col Noel Detoyato, spokesman of Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, identified the slain rebel as Rolando Pamorada, leader of the Isla Command-Mindoro and platoon leader of the Kilusang Larangang Guerilla.
Detoyato said Pamorada, who is facing charges of kidnapping and double murder, also led the collection of permits to campaign and permits to win during the May elections in Oriental Mindoro. Reports said the encounter erupted after members of the Philippine Army and police received an information about the presence of Pamorada, prompting a joint operation against rebel extortionists at Barangay Corconuma in Bongabong town. Instead of surrendering, Pamorada shot it out with the government troops that resulted to his death. PHILIPPINES • La guérilla communiste exporte son savoir-faire | Après le massacre en Inde, début avril, de plusieurs dizaines de policiers par des rebelles naxalites, des témoignages ont indiqué que ces insurgés maoïstes bénéficiaient de l'aide d'un groupe armé philippin.
Des liens qui inquiètent Manille et New Delhi. La Nouvelle Armée du peuple (NPA) n'est pas seulement active aux Philippines. Ce mouvement armé d'obédience communiste, inscrit sur la liste des organisations terroristes par les Etats-Unis et l'Union européenne, exporte aussi son savoir-faire en matière de guérilla dans d'autres pays d'Asie. Certains de ses cadres auraient ainsi formé des rebelles maoïstes en Inde. La NPA, qui s'est fait connaître par ses assassinats et ses actions terroristes, est la branche armée du Parti communiste des Philippines (PCP), présidé par Jose Maria Sison, qui vit en exil aux Pays-Bas. Ce groupe rebelle a été créé en 1969, un an après la fondation du PCP, avec pour mot d'ordre la conduite d'une "guerre populaire de longue durée" contre le pouvoir.