Cablegate: Cpp/Npa - the Struggle Continues

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O 170958Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2033
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002973

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PHUM PINS PREL RP
SUBJECT: CPP/NPA - THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES

1. (SBU) Summary: In response to a renewed campaign by the
Philippine Government (GRP) to defeat Asia's longest-running
communist insurgency, the New People's Army (NPA) has continued its
low intensity attacks throughout the country. At the same time, the
National Democratic Front (NDF) is pushing for renewed peace talks.
NDF leaders flew to Oslo in early July to get the Norwegians
actively involved in encouraging the GRP to return to peace
negotiations. An Opposition Senator signed a joint communiqu with
the NDF that urged the GRP to resume peace talks. GRP officials,
however, have dismissed any resumption of peace talks, demanding
that a ceasefire agreement be made prior to any negotiations, but
have indicated that informal peace talks might take place at the
local level, a strategy that CPP founder Jose Marie Sison has
rejected. President Arroyo recently also signed a new Executive
Order (EO) mandating that even local government units devote
resources to the fight against the NPA. The struggle on the ground
is apt to remain deadly and long. End Summary.

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Attacks continue
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2. (U) On July 16, a Philippine soldier and policeman were killed
in an eight-hour gunfight with 50 suspected NPA troops in Occidental
Mindoro. The same day, four NPA troops apparently allegedly
assassinated a Philippine Army officer in Bulucan. On June 26, an
NPA-command-detonated landmine attack hit a military minivan
carrying AFP troops in Camarines Sur Province. One AFP soldier was
wounded in the explosion. On June 25, an estimated nine NPA troops
raided the camp of the 31st Infantry Battalion in Camarines Sur
Province. The firefight reportedly lasted about 45 minutes, with no
casualties reported. On June 24, an estimated 40 NPA troops
attacked a Philippine Army vehicle carrying Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) troops in Quezon Province. Neither side reported
any casualties. On June 23, approximately 15 NPA troops ambushed a
civilian truck carrying government security forces in Laguna
Province. One soldier was reported wounded in the attack.
On June 18, NPA troops reportedly attacked a Globe
telecommunications station in Compostela Valley Province.

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Let's talk instead
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3. (U) Chairman of the NDF negotiating panel Luis Jalandoni
recently called for the "resumption of formal peace talks between
the GRP and the NDF as soon as possible," and denounced the GRP's
military campaign against the NPA as one that will "further economic
ruin." NDF leaders based in the Netherlands flew to Oslo in early
July for four days of consultations with Norwegian mediators in the
peace process. During the meeting, the NDF made an appeal to the
Norwegians again actively to encourage the GRP to return to peace
negotiations.

4. (U) Opposition Senator Jamby Madrigal met with NDF officials in
the Netherlands June 26 - 27 and signed a joint communiqu that
criticized the GRP's military campaign against the NPA and urged the
GRP to resume peace talks with the communist insurgents.

5. (U) The NDF continues to set preconditions for resumption of
talks, notably the removal of the CPP/NPA from the US and EU lists
of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). It has also called for
the GRP to conduct investigations and prosecutions of GRP officials
allegedly involved in human rights abuses. Jalandoni recently again
also urged the GRP to review and adopt a "10-point Concise Agreement
for an Immediate Just Peace" that the NDF had initially submitted on
August 29, 2005. It addressed issues including the "unity of the
Filipino people against any foreign domination; empowerment of
workers and peasants; economic sovereignty; repudiation of foreign
debts; promotion of a patriotic, scientific and pro-people culture
autonomy of national minorities, the investigation of government
officials who are liable for treason, corruption and human rights
violations; the adoption of independent foreign policy with normal
trade and diplomatic relations with all countries; and finally the
cessation of armed hostilities."

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GRP response
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6. (U) GRP officials have informed Norway that the talks are
"stalled" and that progress can only be made if the NDF/CPP/NPA
abandons its preconditions. GRP officials have nonetheless
indicated that the GRP might pursue peace negotiations at the local
level. From his exile in the Netherlands, CPP founder Jose Marie
Sison rejected local peace talks as a "scheme" to divide the
revolutionary movement, and stated that the GRP should only
negotiate with the NDF negotiating panel.

MANILA 00002973 002 OF 002

7. (U) On July 14, President Arroyo signed a new Executive Order
(EO) mandating that even local government units devote resources to
the fight against the NPA. The EO allows governors and mayors to
draw additional funds from the central government to support
security efforts, such as surveillance and intelligence gathering.
The EO also delineates the specific roles of local executives,
police, and military in the GRP's campaign against the insurgency,
and specifically tasks the Philippine National Police (PNP) with
supporting the AFP in combat operations in the countryside.
Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) Secretary
Ronaldo Puno stated that the "insurgency is a continuing and
sustained struggle," and that the effort requires the assistance of
"local government units and institutions down to the barangay
level."

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Comment
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8. (SBU) Nothing dramatic has changed in the status quo in the
long-running saga of the CPP/NPA, despite the GRP's announced goal
of defeating the NPA within two years and its allocation of
additional resources. The struggle is apt to remain deadly and
long.
KENNEY

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