Gov’t, NDF resume talks next month

The communist umbrella group National Democratic Front (NDF) has agreed to hold formal peace talks with the government next month.

NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni said an agreement was signed Tuesday with government negotiator Silvestre Bello III to work out the continuation of the peace negotiations "within the framework of The Hague Declaration of 1992 and subsequent agreements of the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) and NDF."

In a statement, Jalandoni said the government’s reaffirming of its previous pacts with the NDF has effectively done away with President Arroyo’s earlier offer of a "final peace agreement," which was rejected by communist leaders as a "document of surrender and capitulation."

Jalandoni said peace talks will be resumed "in a foreign venue," even as efforts are under way with the Norwegian Royal Government for Oslo to host and facilitate anew the on-and-off negotiations.

Norway has earlier confirmed its support to the peace process since the NDF wanted the talks to be held on any "neutral ground." Jalandoni said both panels have agreed to resolve other issues, particularly the terror tag on the CPP and its exiled leader Jose Ma. Sison and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

He added the government panel agreed that rebel negotiators will be accorded protection during the conduct of the peace talks in accordance with the provisions of previous pacts, particularly the comprehensive agreement on respect for human rights and international humanitarian law (CARHRIHL).

Jalandoni said the government panel has also agreed to create a joint monitoring committee that will oversee the implementation of the CARHRIHL provisions.

The said body is also expected to ensure the "humanitarian conduct" of the armed conflict, since it will also receive and address complaints of human rights abuses of government forces and NPA guerrillas.

Among other agreements, Jalandoni said both sides will put up "confidence-building measures" for the peace process, facilitate the release of all political prisoners, and work for the indemnification of human rights victims of the Marcos regime through the passage of a pending bill in Congress appropriating at least P8 billion from the Marcos ill-gotten wealth to compensate these victims.

"The NDF holds the view that the resumption of formal talks is long overdue," Jalandoni said.

On the part of the government, presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles said yesterday that the agreement will eventually end 35 years of bloody insurgency in the country.

"There is some openness" on the part of the NDF to the proposal," Deles added.

"We are not into this for again an extended, protracted talks with many, many small agreements that somehow never lead to a conclusion of the armed conflict," Deles said.

"What is maybe the bottom line for the Philippine government is these talks should lead to a very clear, foreseeable end of armed conflict."

Deles said government negotiators have proposed that talks simultaneously address three major remaining topics: ending hostilities, political and constitutional reforms, and socio-economic reform.

Bello said the two sides are looking at a possible Asian venue, with the government suggesting Thailand or Vietnam. The talks may be held the first or second week of February, he added.

Deles said Norway, which is brokering the talks, is expected to take up a more active role because "we need somebody there who will keep both sides honest." – With Artemio Dumlao