While negotiations with Muslim rebels are making steady progress, peace talks with communist rebels have been stalled because they are imposing impossible preconditions, including the abrogation of international treaties, according to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quinto-Deles.
Deles made the statement during a dinner she hosted for the media at the Podium Kanto restaurant in
Another demand of the NDF is for the government to stop the implementation of the economic devleopment program called PAMANA, the acronym for PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn which has been successfully implemented in conflict-affected in the country to uplift the lives of the people.
The PAMANA program aims to improve governance, reduce poverty and empower communities to address issues on conflict and peace through activities that promote social cohesion.
Deles also lamented the increased violence perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) lately in some parts of the country where the victims were mostly civilians.
On the other hand, Deles said that peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is moving forward with the resolution of the wealth sharing arrangement during the 38th exploratory talks held in Kuala Lumpur last week.
When asked when peace negotiations with the NDF would resume, Deles said the government peace panel is ready but the NDF has been imposing demands, adding “the ball is up there” as she assured that the “government is fully engaged in the peace process.”
Negotiations between the government and NDF have been off-and-on the past 27 years without any progress because of the NDF’s imposing preconditions.
During the past three years, the peace panels of the GPH and NDF had met only six times.
One of the conditions raised by the NDF is for the government to abrogate international treaties, Deles said.
Another condition made by NDF for the talks to resume is for the government to release the so-called political prisoners captured by government forces during combat operations.
It may be recalled that the government released some of the political prisoners but at least two of them have gone back to the under movement.
On the other hand, the government has not raised any precondition for the talks to resume.
The GPH peace panel negotiating with the NDF has always been ready to resume talks under a new approach which will offer a better chance of attaining peace in the country.
The New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippine/NDF has intensified its armed attacks in
This prompted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to also intensify its counter action against the NPA.
In a related development, Deles said that Alexander Padilla is still the head of the government peace panel negotiating with the NDF as there is no replacement yet.
“No talks are going on but the table is there, we didn't close the table. We go back to the table if we know it will get us some place,” she said.
When asked of any indication for the talks to resume, Deles said there is none at the moment but “there is some chance if we are able to have some signs that we can go back to the table where there is clear agenda, time frame, and that going to the table will mean better conditions on the ground, meaning to say reduction of violence” referring to the continued armed attacks by NPA rebels in the countryside where the victims included non-combatants.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=546084
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