Gov't leaves door open for NDF

The government has not completely shut its door for peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican said yesterday.

In a statement, Barican said the Estrada administration is ready to resume formal peace talks with the NDF "if and when its (NDF's) leaders decide to pursue the peace process."

Barican issued the statement after Jose Ma. Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines, ruled out any negotiations with the government the other day.

Sison blamed President Estrada for the collapse of the peace talks after the Chief Executive resolved to crush the local insurgency movement.

Barican clarified that the formal peace talks with the NDF were suspended when communist negotiators pulled out of the talks when the Senate ratified the Visiting Forces Agreement on May 27, 1999.

Yet, Mr. Estrada issued Executive Order 115, aiming to continue the government's peace efforts with the rebels.

Under this order, local peace fora would be organized nationwide to reach out to local communist insurgent groups.

The Revolutionary Proletariat Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade has already availed of such a forum when its leaders expressed willingness to talk peace with the government.

The President, who met briefly with its leaders in Baguio City before New Year's Eve, welcomed the development and said this would be a good start for the new millennium.

Meanwhile, Sison said a government plan to expel him from the Netherlands is part of a grand scheme of the Estrada administration to cover up its gross human rights violations.

In a statement, Sison claimed that the government, not he nor the New People's Army, is engaged in terrorism.

"The Estrada regime disregards the fact that I am recognized by Dutch authorities as a political refugee and as someone enjoying the protection of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms," he said.

"But I have been told by friendly opposition leaders in Manila that the real objective of the Estrada regime is to pressure Dutch authorities to harass me, possibly to raid my home and the international office of the National Democratic Front," he added.

Sison also said that the Mr. Estrada has apparently disregarded a government document, certifying that there are no criminal charges filed against him.

"Making false charges against me, the regime is trying to pressure Dutch authorities to deny asylum to me and force me back to the Philippines into the hands of the regime," he said.

Sison also charged that President Estrada has "arrogantly" terminated the peace talks.