Bulatlat.com

‘We’re Not Afraid of U.S. Troops’- NDF

There is no doubt the U.S troops will train their guns next at the National Democratic Front, says a leader of the NDF. But, he adds, the revolutionary movement is not afraid of the U.S. forces.

BY BULATLAT.COM

Fidel Agcaoili, a member of the NDF peace panel negotiating with the Arroyo government, said the public is being conditioned to justify the planned expansion of U.S. military intervention from Basilan to the rest of the country, from Abu Sayyaf to the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

"When that comes, we shall have a war of aggression,” Agcaoili said over the weekend. “We will have to call for a patriotic war of resistance." The NDF leader cited statements by government officials charging the NDF and NPA of engaging in “terrorist and kidnap-for-ransom activities.”

"We are not afraid of the US forces,” Agcoili said. “We were able to withstand several years of the Marcos dictatorship which had the backing of the entire armed forces and the United States. We even grew."

Agcaoili said the presence of an increasing number of U.S. troops in Mindanao serves America’s geopolitical interests. He noted how the Arroyo government is violating its own Constitution in order to support U.S. President George Bush’s “war on global terrorism.”

The NDF negotiator also denounced the incarceration of Edgardo Sacamay, a suspected local NPA leader in Central Visayas captured by the military last March 9, and alleged violations of Sacamay's human rights.

Agcaoili said, Sacamay was in transit for consultations with him and that based on an earlier agreement with government, anyone in transit for consultations with a duly-accredited NDF negotiator is covered with safety and immunity guarantees.

Reports said Sacamay was involved in the historic NPA raid of Bohol's PNP mobile headquarters in 1999. Relatives and local human rights groups are thus apprehensive that the military will not allow Sacamay's release.

But the NDF negotiator said Sacamay was denied counsel even after he was presented to media.

The NPA suspect was allegedly interrogated for several hours without a lawyer present and threatened with summary execution.

On the peace talks, Agcaoili said the government is no longer interested in holding peace negotiations. "It talks about wanting to talk but it violates the framework for the talks and makes unreasonable demands."

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspended early this month formal negotiations with the NDF. The government wants the three remaining agenda to be tackled simultaneously, contrary to earlier agreements. These are on economic and social reforms, political and constitutional reforms and disposition of forces.

Agcaoili said the Arroyo government's position sweeps aside the 10 bilateral agreements produced during the several years of negotiations which resumed under the Ramos government.

Imprisoned for more than 10 years during the Marcos dictatorship, Agcaoili stays in exile in Utrecht, the Netherlands, with Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman and NDF chief political consultant, Jose Ma. Sison and NDF chief negotiator and former priest Luis Jalandoni. Bulatlat.com

We want to know what you think of this article.