Philippine government declares 24-hour truce with rebels

Philippine government declares 24-hour truce with rebels

2011-09-21 08:40:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANILA (BNO NEWS) -- The Philippine government on Tuesday declared a one-day suspension of offensive military operations against rebels to mark the United Nations International Peace Day celebration on Wednesday, officials said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will implement its Suspension of Offensive Military Operations (SOMO) against the New People's Army (NPA) from midnight September 20 until midnight September 21. Arnulfo Burgos, AFP public affairs office chief, said the ceasefire is also the AFP's demonstration of its commitment, sincerity, and support to the primacy of the peace process.

The Manila Bulletin reported Burgos also said that despite the ceasefire, the AFP will continue to secure and protect the population against violence and atrocities.

The New People's Army is the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The rebels have been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the largely Catholic country.

Meanwhile, peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (<deleted>) are set to continue in October despite the threat of renegade rebel leader Ameril Umbra Kato. The leader, who split with the <deleted> and formed his own group called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, has reportedly threatened to disrupt the ongoing peace negotiations.

The <deleted> entered into peace negotiations with the government in 1997, but despite a ceasefire agreement, the southern Philippines continues to see violence. The rebel group has been fighting against the Government of the Philippines since 1977 for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

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