MANILA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that peace talks with the rebels can proceed even without its exiled leader Jose Maria Sison, reiterating his ultimatum for the rebels to stop using landmines in attacking government troops or he would be forced to scrap the peace negotiations.
In a speech before soldiers in Samar province, Duterte lamented the dilly-dallying of communist rebels in responding to the government-initiated peace talks.
Duterte said he is getting exasperated by the rebels' indecision. However, he said "still I would insist that we talk with or without Sison or with or without the politburo."
To the communist rebels, Duterte said, "We want peace but if I hear another landmine explosion then (we bid the peace talks) goodbye. I will order the peace panel to return to the Philippines. Don't waste your money there and talk nonsense."
"I am not warning you. I'm not giving an ultimatum even. I'm just saying that if another landmine explodes which is prohibited by the Geneva Convention I will forego with the peace talks and forget about it," he warned.
The government and the communist rebels are scheduled to hold talks in Oslo, Norway on Aug. 20 to Aug. 27, in a fresh attempt to revive stalled talks to end decades-old communist insurgency.
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