MANILA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Prospects to end almost 50-year long leftist insurgency in the Philippines have dimmed following the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the peace talks and ordered the resumption of military offensive against the Philippine communist insurgents who have been trying to overthrow the government since 1969.
The talks that kicked off in Oslo, Norway in August last year was the latest attempt of the government to end one of the world's last communist insurgencies. The armed conflict, which has left more than 40,000 insurgents, soldiers and civilians dead, has spanned 48 years.
Duterte, who presented himself as a "socialist" and the first "leftist" Philippine president, said when he assumed office in June that he was willing to "walk the extra mile" to achieve peace, a campaign promise that he wants to pursue.
But last Friday he ordered government troops to prepare to fight the New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. "I am asking the soldiers: Go back to your camps, clean your riles and be ready to fight," Duterte said.
"I have lost many soldiers in just 48 hours, I think to continue with the ceasefire does not, or will not, produce anything," Duterte said in a speech, referring to the alleged atrocities committed by the rebels while separate unilateral ceasefire was in force.
Both sides separately declared truce to give way to the latest talks in August last year.
"Take your position and be alert," the tough-talking Duterte said. "My opinion is that there will no more be peace in this land vis-a-vis the communists. Let us continue the war. If you want to go to war for another 50 years, then let's go to war. Peace is not possible during our generation, I'm sorry," Duterte said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday that the government would wage "an all-out war" against the rebels, saying the group poses a huge threat to national security.
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