NDF chief negotiator: Aquino govt dimmed prospects of peace

From GMA News (Jun 16): NDF chief negotiator: Aquino govt dimmed prospects of peace

The chief negotiator of the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) said prospects of peace under President Benigno Aquino III's administration have already "dimmed" because of the government's supposed refusal to hold its end up on agreements signed by both parties decades ago.

In an interview posted on his group's website, NDF chief peace negotiator Luis Jalandoni accused the Philippine government of refusing to address the root cause of the 44-year-old communist insurgency in the country. He also said the administration has not complied with past agreements it signed with the NDF.

"Unfortunately, recently, the Aquino government has embarked on a vitriolic attack on the NDFP, claiming that the NDFP is scuttling the peace talks by imposing preconditions. This, however, is false. The NDFP is insisting that the government of the Philippines respect and comply with agreements signed," Jalandoni said.

Jalandoni likewise said that communist insurgents in the Philippines will continue fighting until the end of Aquino's term if the NDF's demands are not met by the Philippine government.

"If the Aquino government continues to refuse, then the NDFP continues its revolutionary struggle throughout the country and is willing to wait out the three years left of the Aquino regime," the NDF chief negotiator said.

Last April, the Philippine government said it is ending peace negotiations with the NDF after a 44-month impasse. Alexander Padilla, chairperson of the government panel negotiating with the NDF, said his party wants to see “sincerity and political will” first from communist groups before returning to the peace table.

Lawyer Edre Olalia, NDF legal consultant, earlier blamed the Philippine government for the stalled negotiations, saying the government peace panel was "too fixated" on asking for a ceasefire while talks were ongoing.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/313142/news/nation/ndf-chief-negotiator-aquino-govt-dimmed-prospects-of-peace