Philippines: Political violence perpetrated by the New People's Army (NPA), particularly in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental province (1998 - August 2000); status of peace talks between the Government of the Philippines and the NPA

No specific information on recent political violence perpetrated by the New People's Army (NPA, the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, CPP) in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental province, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. There are, however, numerous reports of recent violence attributed to the NPA in other parts of the Philippines, including the provinces of Misamis Oriental ( DPA 2 Apr. 2000; AFP 2 Apr. 2000), Isabela (AFP 28 June 2000), Kalinga (AFP 11 Apr. 2000), Leyte (Keesing's Mar. 2000, 43465), Quezon (AFP 24 Jan. 2000; Keesing's Nov. 1999, 43263), Surigao del Norte (DPA 17 Feb. 1999), and Bicol (Country Reports 1999, section 1d).

Without specifying a location, Jane's Intelligence Review reported that the NPA was "active in Christian regions of eastern Mindanao" in early 2000 (1 June 2000) and Amnesty International reported that throughout 1999 the "number of armed confrontations between the security forces and the NPA increased in at least eight provinces" (2000). The US Department of State report Patterns of Global Terrorism 1999 also reported that the NPA "continued to target Philippine security forces in 1999" (Apr. 2000).

Country Reports 1999 also reported that the Philippine government's Commission on Human Rights identified the NPA as a leading abuser of human rights in 1999, having committed "serious abuses, including extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, torture and detentions." (2000, section 1e).

In December 1997, the government announced the resumption of peace talks with the NPA after the NPA had released two hostages whom they had abducted in October (Keesing's Dec. 1997, 41962).In February 1998, the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF, the negotiating arm of the CPP) signed a human rights accord in the Netherlands (Keesing's Feb. 1998, 42074). Keesing's reported that the accord, titled the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law, was "the first of four agreements which the two sides hoped to reach as part of a political settlement to end the long-running guerrilla war being waged by the NDF's military wing, the New People's Army (NPA)" (ibid.).

In February 1999, the NPA abducted several individuals on the outskirts of Davao City, including General Victor Obillo, "one of the Philippines' top commanders" (The Economist 13 Mar. 1999; AP 15 Mar. 1999).  Following this incident, President Estrada suspended the peace talks indefinitely (ibid.; Keesing's Feb. 1999, 42789).

In April 1999, it was reported that the NPA released "the last of five military and police captives" (Keesing's Apr. 1999, 42897; DPA 25 Apr. 1999), although the Department of State claimed that the NPA was still holding an army major and police official at year end (Apr. 2000).  President Estrada announced he would resume talks with the NDF; his offers, however, were rejected (Keesing's Apr. 1999, 42897).  In May 1999, the NDF called off further peace talks because it disagreed with the government signing a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) (Keesing's May 1999, 42897; ABS-CBN News 3 Dec. 1999), which the Department of State described as a legal framework for joint military training exercises between Philippines and US armed forces (Apr. 2000).

A 3 December 1999 article on the ABS-CBN News Website stated that the NPA was "dangling two of its 'prisoners of war' to prod the government into resuming peace talks with the rebel group's Central Committee based in the Netherlands" rather than dealing with the communists at a "local level." ABS-CBN News reported that

Sison [the founder and chairman of the CPP who is currently living in Utrecht, Netherlands] said the President's directive to hold peace talks with communist rebels at the local level is futile. …

He added that such negotiations are meant to weaken the bargaining position of the communists, since talks are held with regional representatives of the rebel movement. …

The Communist Party chief asserted that peace talks should be done on a national level and that only top communist leaders should negotiate with the administration (9 Dec. 1999).

More recent reports of peace talks between the NPA and the government were not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.There is, however, a report of peace talks between the government and a "reformist breakaway faction" of the CPP, the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ARB) (ABS-CBN News 18 Feb. 2000).  This report could not be corroborated within the time constraints of this response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.  Please see the list of additional sources consulted in researching this response.

ABS-CBN News. 18 February 2000.  "RPA-ABB Peace Talks Begin." [Accessed 8 Aug. 2000]

_____. 9 December 1999.  "Communist Chief Sison Decries Failed Peace Talks Anew." [Accessed 8 Aug. 2000]

_____. 3 December 1999.  "NPA Dangles Prisoners for Peace Talks." [Accessed 8 Aug. 2000]

Agence France Presse (AFP). 28 June 2000. "Philippine Army Colonel Among 13 Soldiers Slain in Communist Ambush." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 April 2000. "Philippine Communist Rebels Kill Retired Army Major." (NEXIS)

_____. 2 April 2000. "Four Communist Guerrillas Killed in Clash with Philippine Troops." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 January 2000. "One Philippine Soldier Killed, Two Wounded in Attack by Communist Rebels." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International (AI). 2000. Annual Report 2000. <http://www.web.amnesty.org/> [Accessed 7 July 2000]

Associated Press (AP). 15 March 1999.  "Philippine Police: Rebels Took Advantage of Talks to Strengthen Forces." (NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999.  2000. United States Department of State. [Accessed 7 July 2000]

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 2 April 2000. "At Least Four Communist Rebels Killed in Southern Philippine Clash." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 April 1999. "Communist Rebels Free Philippine Army Sergeant Held for Over a Year." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 February 1999. "Clash with Communist Rebels in Southern Philippines Leaves 9 Dead." (NEXIS)

The Economist  13 March 1999."The Philippines: A Red Army Strikes." (NEXIS)

Jane's Intelligence Review. 1 June 2000. "Philippines Set for Wider Conflict." Vol. 12, No. 6. (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. March 2000. "Philippines: Bombing by Communist Group - Continued Fighting with MILF."

_____. November 1999. "Philippines: Resurgence of NPA."

_____. May 1999. "Philippines: Protest against military exercises with USA."

  April 1999. "Philippines: Release of Kidnapped Soldiers."

_____. February 1999. "Philippines: Abduction of General - Pact Between Rebels."

_____. February 1998. "Philippines: Government-NDF Accord."

_____. December 1997. "Philippines: Announcements of Resumption of Talks with NPA."

US Department of State. April 2000. Patterns of Global Terrorism 1999. [Accessed 9 Aug. 2000]

Human Rights Watch

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