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Marxist rebels vow Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
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Marxist Rebels Vow All-Out War in Philippines
Wed Aug 7, 7:18 AM ET
MANILA (Reuters) - Marxist rebels in the Philippines vowed all-out resistance after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ( news - web sites) ordered more troops deployed in their suspected strongholds, a guerrilla spokesman said Wednesday.
Gregorio Rosal, spokesman of the New People's Army, also told local radio he suspected the redeployment of some government troops from the south of the country to areas controlled by communist rebels was dictated by the United States.
The New People's Army is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which has been fighting for a Marxist state in the largely Catholic country for more than three decades.
The government announced the fresh campaign against Marxist rebels Monday, after joint exercises between the Philippine and U.S. military, aimed at defeating local Muslim rebels linked to the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden ( news - web sites), ended last week.
"We have no choice, if there is an all-out war. We will adopt an all-out resistance," Rosal told DZRV radio station.
"We will take all options to fight and to show the present government that it could not just crush us as they intend to."
Rosal made the comments as exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison called on the New People's Army to topple power lines.
"SPECIAL OPERATIONS"
The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Wednesday that Sison, who lives in exile in The Hague ( news - web sites), urged the party's guerrillas to go "into new kinds of special operations, such as destroying electrical towers and lines."
Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the police and the military have taken measures to address the threats of the communists, whom he branded as terrorists.
"Because they are threatening civilian populations and civilian installations, they are terrorists," Reyes told a news conference. New People's Army has about 11,000 members, he said.
National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Sison's statement brings his group "closer to being categorized as a terrorist group, which could merit international sanctions."
"It must be stressed that the sabotage of power lines and other infrastructure is classified as an 'act of terrorism' under international law," he said.
WAR AGAINST TERROR
Rosal lashed out at the Arroyo government for targeting Marxist rebels, a move which he said was dictated by the Americans who branded those not sharing their beliefs or defying their wishes as terrorists.
The Arroyo government is one of the staunchest supporters of the U.S. war against terror in Asia.
About 1,000 U.S. troops were deployed in the southern islands of Basilan and Zamboanga for six months, training Filipino soldiers in counter-terrorism to help defeat the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas. The exercises ended last week.
Philippine Armed Forces Chief General Roy Cimatu said on Tuesday about 400 American soldiers would take part in the second phase of joint exercises in October.
About 4,000 local troops would be trained by U.S. special forces in the exercises, which would be funded by a $55-million military assistance package promised by Secretary of State Colin Powell ( news - web sites) during a visit to Manila last week.
Cimatu said skills learned by Filipinos in the training should also help them fight Marxist rebels. Since U.S. forces began training local soldiers in February, the military has largely neutralized the Muslim rebel group Abu Sayyaf, he said.
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