[asia-apec 1036] Estrada brings peace a step back

[BAYAN]

MEDIA RELEASE
23 February 1999

Estrada brings peace a step back

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) today challenged President Estrada
to prove his sincerity at  pursuing the promise of EDSA by going back to the
negotiating table with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines
(NDFP) and resolve the root causes of the armed conflict.

"It is tragic that Estrada has to make an announcement that would further
damage the precarious status of the peace talks on the day of the
anniversary of EDSA," said Bayan Deputy Secretary General Teodoro Casiño
referring to the President's "bluff" to cancel the release of some 50
political prisoners in light of the capture of two prisoners of war (POW),
one of them a general, by the New People's Army.

"If Estrada is truly sincere in what he said yesterday, then he should
abandon his stubborn macho attitude towards resolving the armed conflict
and work for a more diplomatic approach in working for the release of the
two POWs," said Casiño.

"Estrada has a severe attitude problem. The attitude of a budding
dictator," he said.

"The problem with him is that he thinks he can solve everything through
brute force just like what happens in most of his movies. 

"Estrada and his advisers should recognize that the basic reason why the
NPA is strengthening and now has the capability to launch tactical
offensives is that more and more people are getting disillusioned with the
government. Especially under his administration which quickly restored the
power and the privileges of the Marcoses and their cronies and which is
aiming to return the fascist and oppressive measures of martial law," said
Casiño.

Thirteen years after EDSA the pursuit for a genuine and lasting peace
becomes even more farfetched. The Estrada government, Bayan said, has
refused to implement the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human
Rights and International Humanitarian Law which it already signed with the
NDF.

"Yesterday's EDSA anniversary rites was nothing but a farce. How can
Estrada say that he will continue with the battle against poverty when he
has refused to address the roots of the people's unrest and when he
stubbornly refuses to negotiate with forces who represent the revolutionary
aspirations of the people?" said Casiño. ###