From the leftst and often pro-CPP Davao Today (Nov 5): NDFP’s legal consultant optimistic in peace talks resumption
The legal consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ (NDFP) Peace Negotiating Panel said there’s still hope for the resumption of peace talks with the Government of the Philippines (GPH). Lawyer Edre Olalia, in a forum sponsored by a peace advocacy group, Sowing the Seeds for Peace, on Saturday, also pointed out that the country’s economic crisis will push the NDFP and GPH “to discuss problems and find solutions.” While there have been recent developments on the side of the GPH in response to a proposal submitted by the NDFP, Olalia, however, said he’s not at liberty to say what is its current status. He revealed though that the Aquino administration has sent emissaries to meet the negotiators in The Netherlands sometime last month. Olalia, who’s also the secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, said that “timing” remains a question.... One of the major obstacles of the resumption of peace talks, Olalia said, was the GPH’s refusal to release all or most of the 17 NDFP Consultants detained by the GRP/GPH.... Olalia said that without compliance with Jasig, the panelists and consultants cannot function, and that Jasig is needed to build confidence.Olalia also noted “a very serious obstacle.” He said that the GPH, for the first time, has undermined the basic bilateral agreements. In February, the GPH Peace Panel has attacked The Hague Joint Declaration as a document of “perpetual division.” He furthered, the GPH declared that Jasig does not require compliance and that it’s only at their whim that they shall release detained Jasig-protected NDFP consultants. The GPH, he noted, also refused to release about 400 political prisoners in accordance with the clear directive of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (Carhrihl)....
http://davaotoday.com/main/2012/11/05/ndfps-legal-consultant-optimistic-in-peace-talks-resumption/
Prospects for GRP-CPP/NDF peace agreement not good. For commies, peace negotiations are just a tactic to support armed struggle. Not likely to agree to ceasefire (commies believe in "talk and fight" strategy). CPP objectives in agreeing to talks is to gain maximum concessions from GRP, manuever GRP into signing documents that can later be used for propaganda purposes, gain release of captured cadre (commies call them political prisoners), gain political legitimacy (from entering negotiations as co-equal with GRP), reinforce belligerency status (commies feel that they already have belligerncy status but use foreign sponsored negotiations in Oslo to reinforce their claim), score propaganda points, and maintain political releveance of exiled CPP/NDF leaders based in Utrecht, the Netherlands (eg. Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni). Short of GRP ceding power to CPP through the establishment of a coalition government (not going to happen), there can be no meeting of the minds. Remember, seizure of power is the ultimate of goal of the diehard Maoists that control the CPP/NPA.
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