Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine President RodrigoDuterte on November 23 signed a proclamation to formally terminate talks withthe country's armed groups, ending hope for stopping half-a-century conflict viadialogue.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Harry Roque saidDuterte has directed the office of the presidential peace advisers to canceltalks and meetings with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People'sArmy-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).
The Duterte administration revived the talks with the groupsin August last year. But the talks have since bogged down due to a series ofattacks launched by the rebels against troops and civilians.
Since 1986, the government has been trying to reach a peacedeal with the rebels but failed to make any headway.
Conflict between the Government army and the armed groupsbegan in 1969, claiming about 30,000 lives.-VNA