An ecumenical church group in the Philippines has renewed calls for the resumption of peace negotiations with communists following the arrest of several rebel peace consultants in recent weeks. Church leaders from various denominations and diverse Christian traditions said the talks are still the “most viable option to attaining a just and enduring peace.” Talks broke down in July 2017 after the government accused rebels of continuing attacks on government forces.
The church leaders cited a survey by pollster Pulse Asia early this year that found 74 percent of Filipinos had been following the talks. Of them, nearly 80 percent believe that peace talks can end the hostilities between the warring forces. The church leaders noted that there were also significant increases in armed encounters between the Philippine military and New People’s Army guerrillas. As reported by asianews.it, the church leaders’ statement signed by Catholic Archbishop Antonio Ledesma and Protestant Bishop Rex Reyes, joint chairmen of PEPP, read, “”We are very much concerned and alarmed by these reports because of our conviction that respect for human rights and human dignity is a basic condition of peace.”
The prelates noted that there was a “bright prospect” when the formal peace talks resumed in earnest in 2016 until 2017.
Source: ucanews.com
