DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 17, 2012) – Communist rebels have agreed to pursue peace talks with Manila, but demanded to free hundreds of political prisoners, among others before formal negotiations would begin.
Peace talks collapsed in 2004 after the Philippines rejected rebel demand to free political prisoners.
The National Democratic Front, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said it would resume peace talks with the Aquino government if Manila agrees to the following: Respect for and compliance with all bilateral agreements without qualification, the release of all 356 political, including 14 NDFP consultants who were either captured or arrested by authorities for various crimes; respect for and compliance with the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, an independent investigation of the extrajudicial killing of NDFP political consultant Sotero Llamas and the enforced disappearances of other consultants Leo Velasco, Prudencio Calubid, Rogelio Calubad, among other.
The NDFP headed by Luis Jalandoni, also wants recognition of the government responsibility for instigating raids on NDFP office, JMS and other NDFP personnel in August 2007; reconstruction of Document of Identification (DI) list; use of encrypted photos as legitimate photos. The rectification of “terrorist listing” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and communist leader Jose Maria Sison by the United States and other foreign governments and the indemnification of victims of human rights violations under the Marcos regime in connection with the human rights litigation in the United States.
It said Manila’s compliance with the demands opens the way for the resumption of formal peace talks. Both sides met in Norway from June 14-15 to discuss the possible resumption of the talks.
“The Parties have agreed to continue meaningful discussions of concerns and issues raised by both sides on June 14 and 15 in Oslo, to pave the way for the resumption of the formal talks in the peace negotiations in order to resolve the armed conflict and attain a just and lasting peace,” a joint statement released over the weekend said.
Manila also proposed a cease-fire with communist rebels, but nothing has been agreed so far. Chief government peace negotiator Alexander Padilla said Norway is brokering the talks.
“After such a long impasse marked by distrust and misunderstanding, this is a welcome development, an opportunity for a new beginning. We look forward to more meaningful discussions with the hope that it will lead to productive formal talks. We have wasted 25 years fighting each other rather than working together for our people,” Padilla said in a separate statement to the Mindanao Examiner.
The rebels are fighting for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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