Spirited next round of talks seen in Oslo

ANGELES CITY, Philippines – The National Democratic Front (NDF) yesterday said it expects “spirited and interesting” continuing talks with the government in Oslo, Norway from Oct. 6 to 10.

“The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)’s guide for establishing the people’s democratic government plus the program for a people’s democratic government of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines will serve as ‘guiding frameworks’ in crafting an agreement on social and economic reforms under the proposed framework and outline exchanged by the NDFP,” the organization said in a statement.?Earlier this week, the government and the NDF exchanged notes on the framework and outline for the comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms, the second substantive agenda to be tackled in the next round of peace negotiations.

The exchange of the framework and outline was agreed upon during the meeting of the reciprocal working committees on social and economic reforms (RWC-SER) of both parties last Aug. 24.

The substantive agenda on social and economic reforms is next to be negotiated by the two parties according to the framework agreement set by The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992.

“We anticipate a spirited and interesting discussion on the frameworks, and at the same time expect it to be a bit contentious,” said NDF consultant and RWC-SER member Randall Echanis.

However, Echanis said “the interests, rights and welfare of the people and addressing the roots of the armed conflict should be of utmost importance.”?Echanis added that “under the NDFP proposal, the responsibility for implementation of the agreement shall be joint and separate.”

The guide for establishing the people’s democratic government is a 1972 document of the CPP that is being used by the NDF as basic law in setting up the organs of people’s political power in guerrilla bases and revolutionary territories.?According to the NDF proposal, among the main objectives are to carry out agrarian reform and national industrialization; advance the rights of the exploited, oppressed, discriminated and disadvantaged sectors of society; uphold, protect, defend and promote economic sovereignty; and protect the environment.