Posted on 02/16/2004 5:02:08 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
The National Democratic Front (NDF), which represents the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) in the peace negotiations with the Philippine government in Oslo, Norway, is pushing for the holding of the next round of talks in the China by the end of March.
NDF panel chairman Luis Jalandoni said Beijing has already sent "positive feelers" to both parties that it is willing to host the talks.
The Philippine government and communist guerrillas wrapped up four days of peace negotiations in Oslo on Saturday with a compromise on the thorny issue of whether the rebels should continue to be labeled as "terrorists." After a long night of negotiations, the delegates on both sides of the conflict signed the "Oslo Joint Statement" amidst smiles and warm embraces. The two delegations then agreed on a new meeting at the end of March in Oslo or in Beijing.
Jalandoni revealed the just-concluded Oslo negotiations were supposed to be held in China, but these were scrapped due to the resurgence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Guangdong. Another foreign venue previously eyed for the peace talks was Hanoi, Vietnam, but this was similarly junked due to fears of the avian influenza virus.
Jalandoni said the royal Norwegian government will remain as the third-party facilitator in the peace process even if the peace talks will be held in Beijing. Norway is also involved in peace negotiations between the Sri Lankan government and the insurgent Tamil Tigers.
Beijing was cited as a possible venue for the continuation of the peace negotiations because China became the inspiration of the Maoist rebels in waging a "people’s protracted war" against the Philippine government.
The communist rebellion is "not like al-Qaeda or like Osama bin Laden," Jalandoni said.
"Our practice and our principles are those of a liberation movement like ANC," the African National Congress, Nelson Mandela’s South African anti-apartheid movement, he said.
"The biggest terrorists are those sitting in the White House," Jalandoni told reporters in Oslo following the ceremony.
From the government side of the negotiating table, however, chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III merely said that the question of the terrorist label "would be undertaken by both sides... but without prejudice to our existing foreign policy." The two delegations have asked that Norway, the facilitator of their talks, "shall inform the international community about this common position."
The declaration calls on the US, the members of the 15-nation European Union (EU), Canada and Australia "to support the efforts of the parties in resolving the outstanding issue of the CPP-NPA being on the "terrorist listing."
The NDF had asked the Philippine government to join its demand for Western countries to delete the communist movement from their terrorist blacklists. The government and the CPP-NPA also decided to create a joint committee to monitor the implementation of an agreement they signed in 1998 on the respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. ‘Vital Step Toward Peace’ Lawmakers led by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. said the Philippines has taken a "vital step toward peace" in the Oslo agreement. "This is a vital step toward peace, to ending more than 35 years of violence and fighting between Filipinos," De Venecia said.
With the agreement to implement confidence-building measures, De Venecia said the House of Representatives will do its part in approving the P8 billion compensation package for an estimated 10,000 human rights victims of martial law during the 1970s.
Rep. Prospero Pichay, chairman of the House committee on defense and security, said the communists can show their genuine desire for peace by refraining from imposing "revolutionary taxes" and "permit to campaign" fees on candidates campaigning in the countryside for the May 10 elections.
"These efforts by communist rebels will give spirit to their commitment for peace with the Philippine government. These will also be their major contribution to the successful conduct of the elections to usher in a peaceful transition of power in the local and national level," Pichay said.
Antique Rep. Exequiel Javier said the breakthrough in the peace talks in Oslo was encouraging and should be sustained by both parties.
Javier said the forthcoming electoral exercise is a good opportunity for the NDF to show its sincerity to push for peace by supporting a bilateral ceasefire and refraining from collection of campaign fees from candidates.
Davao City Rep. Vincent Garcia said the breakthrough in the peace negotiations has renewed hope among the Filipino people for a solution in the 35-year communist insurgency problem.
Garcia also added a bilateral ceasefire during the elections would enhance the peace negotiations since it will provide a respite from hostilities between government and communist rebels.
"If a ceasefire is possible during the holidays, it can also be possible during elections to allow voters to choose freely their candidates under a peaceful atmosphere," he said.
The terrorist tag has hampered the NPA’s ability to raise funds abroad, prompting them to step up extortion activities in imposing revolutionary taxes and campaign fees on candidates.
The government peace panel said they are willing to relax their initial demand that the peace accords conclude before the May 10 elections in which President Arroyo is seeking a full six year mandate.
"What is important to us now is to bring... the peace process (back) on track," Bello said when asked if he still hoped to conclude the peace accord in time for the elections.Jalandoni, however, said reaching a settlement before May 10 was "unrealistic."
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