Philippines: Communist insurgents reject preconditions for peace talks

Event

Communist guerrillas have agreed to resume peace talks with the government, proposed recently by President Rodrigo Duterte. However, guerrilla leadership announced on Thursday, April 5, that they would reject any preconditions. President Duterte campaigned in 2016 on a promise to end the nearly 50-year-long Maoist rebellion, which has killed more than 40,000 people. However, his government abandoned peace efforts in November 2017 due to repeated rebel attacks.

Context

The government and the communists' political wing, the National Democratic Front, have been in on-again, off-again negotiations since 1986. Previous agreements have fallen apart when the government re-arrested rebels who served as consultants in the talks. Philippine security forces also continue to combat Muslim insurgent groups in the south.

Advice

Individuals present in the Philippines are advised to refrain from discussing political subjects, avoid regions and provinces where radical/separatist insurgent groups operate, and adhere to any instructions issues by local authorities.