Palace confirms bogged down talks with communist rebels

From the Sun Star-Manila (Mar 15): Palace confirms bogged down talks with communist rebels

MALACANANG confirmed Thursday that the peace negotiation between the Aquino administration and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has collapsed due to "unacceptable" conditions raised by the rebels.

The Philippine government represented by chief negotiator Alexander Padilla and Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas met with the NDF, the political front of the Maoist group, led by Jose Ma. Sison, the founding chairman of the communist organization in the country, and chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni in The Netherlands on February 25-26.

"They were asking for something, they were asking for conditions, (which were) unacceptable. There's obviously no meeting of the minds, that's why it bogged down," said Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

"But to claim that it was our fault, it's govenrment's fault, that's wrong. It's not true," he said.

In an earlier statement, the NDF was blaming the government why the February talks were scuttled.

Lacierda said the government has shown its sincerity and commitment on the peace process with the rebels through some confidence-building measures.

But what the rebels have done, he said were "a lot of confidence-diminishing measures."

The government is now asking Norway, the facilitator in the peace process, on the possible next step.

"We're asking the third party facilitator to assess the situation right now," Lacierda said.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2013/03/15/palace-confirms-bogged-down-talks-communist-rebels-272979