Bayan slams formal termination of peace talks with Reds

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes on Friday hit the Duterte administration for formally terminating the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

In a statement, Reyes said President Rodrigo Duterte has "failed to grasp that addressing the roots of the armed conflict, and not a militarist approach, is the most effective way to a just peace."

"He fails yet again in learning from history, that it is injustice and oppression that is the basis of the ongoing conflict," Reyes said.

"The Duterte regime overestimates itself, while grossly underestimating the severity of the crisis and the capacity of the people to overcome," he added.

On Thursday, Duterte announced the permanent termination of peace talks between the government and the communist groups. He also made a warning to communists to stop their alleged land grabbing activities or else he will order security forces to shoot them.

Prior to Duterte's statement, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo bared that panels would be created to facilitate local peace talks with communists.

Reyes, for his part, claimed that localized peace talks do not present a clear framework for socioeconomic and sociopolitical reforms which form the substance of the peace talks.

He further said localized peace talks appear to be doomed from the start as "it is more of a monologue than a dialogue, since one side has said it will not participate."

Reyes said Duterte's action would only escalate armed conflict which will result in widespread human rights violations, militarization of communities, attacks on progressive organizations and other abuses. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News