US: Philippine 'New People's Army' Terrorist Group

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, August 10, 2002

US: Philippine 'New People's Army' Terrorist Group

The US State Department distributed a statement in Manila Saturday putting the Philippine rebel group New People's Army (NPA) on its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

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The US State Department distributed a statement in Manila Saturday putting the Philippine rebel group New People's Army (NPA) on its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

In the statement, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the decision was made after an exhaustive review of the group's violent activities.

He said the group "strongly opposed any U.S. presence in the Philippines and has killed U.S. citizens there (in the Philippines)."

Powell said, "the group has also killed, injured, or kidnapped numerous Philippine citizens, including government officials."

As a result, the U.S. will be imposing measures against the terrorist group, including the blockade by US financial institution of assets held by the group and deportation of all individuals or groups related with the NPA from all the US territories.

At the beginning of this week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Armed Forces to redeploy its troops from Zamboanga and Basilan, where the Abu Sayyaf operates, to areas where there is a resurgence of NPA activities.

Media reports said after cracking down the Abu Sayyaf bandit group with the help of US troops, the Philippine government's nexttarget is likely to be the NPA.

Peace talks between the government and the NPA, which has operated since 1969, were called off last year after the NPA assassinated two Congressmen.

Jose Maria Sison, the exiled political leader of the NPA announced from the Netherlands on Tuesday in response to Arroyo's redeployment of armed forces that the NPA would intensify its assaults against government troops. It would be using "both basic and special operations," such as "destroying electrical towers andlines," to divert the attention of the military, show the strengthof the guerrillas and cause "calculated" economic disruption.

He also called on the Muslim separatist insurgent groups to simultaneously launch attacks on the government.

However, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said on Wednesdaythat Arroyo did not declare an "all-out war" against the NPA, but rather a redeployment of the military to outlying communities to ensure peace and order.

The government also announced on Friday resumption of peace talks with the NPA in late August or September.

Over 1,000 US troops trained and assisted Filipino soldiers in the six-month joint exercises ended on July 31 to combat the Abu Sayyaf which was also listed as a foreign terrorist group by the US government. Over hundred Abu Sayyaf members were reportedly killed during the exercises.

A new round of joint exercises between the US and Philippine troops will be held from October to June, 2003, the Philippine government said earlier.

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