Communist rebels reject Philippines’ conditions for resuming peace talks

The Philippines government set fresh conditions Thursday for resuming peace talks with communist rebels, drawing a quick rejection from leaders of the nearly 50-year-old insurgency. The rebels would have to drop collection of a “revolutionary tax” from businesses and demands to be part of a governing coalition, AFP reported. President Rodrigo Duterte’s peace adviser Jesus Dureza also said talks would need to move to the Philippines from Europe and rebels would have to live in special camps. “The doors for peace negotiations with the communist rebels are still open,” Dureza said. Duterte called off negotiations in November and formally designated the Communist Party and its 3,800-member armed wing the New People’s Army as “terrorist organizations.”