Communists insist on safe passage

From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 10): Communists insist on safe passage

The Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front on Tuesday proposed a six-month timeframe for peace talks with the government to complete the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms.

At the same time, NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni insisted that the government must respect the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, which the rebel group has consistently invoked to press for the release of its detained leaders and consultants.

Last month, CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon and his wife, Wilma Austria, were arrested in Cebu.

Jalandoni insisted that the Jasig issue is “essential” to the peace process and not merely “procedural matters” as described by presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles.

“It requires being true to one’s word of honor. Who would trust a government that does not comply with agreements and contracts it has entered into?” Jalandoni said.

In a separate statement, CPP founding chairman and political consultant Jose Ma. Sison warned that if previously signed agreements, including the Jasig, are not respected, “the people will not see the need for negotiating and making agreements with such reneging regime.”

The government has stood firm on its position that the Jasig has already become inoperative because of the NDF’s failure to keep a hard copy of the list containing the photographs, real names, and aliases of all NDF consultants who enjoy safe conduct passes.

Aside from the Tiamzon couple, other high-ranking communist leaders who are still detained are Tirso Alcantara, Alan Jazmines, Emeterio Antalan, Leopoldo Caloza, Pedro Codaste, Alfredo Mapano, Eduardo Sarmiento, Paterno Opo, Dario Tomada, and Marilyn Badayos-Condes.

Still, Jalandoni said both parties can start reviving the stalled talks with informal consultations in Norway in the last week of May.

He said this should be followed by a two-week marathon meeting in Norway “for the formal resumption of peace negotiations.”

In an earlier interview, government chief negotiator Alexander Padilla said he is awaiting word from Norway on the agenda of the talks being pushed by the NDF.

Jalandoni said both parties could spend a month to talk about the issues surrounding the Hacienda Luisita - the vast sugar estate owned by the family of President Benigno Aquino III.

The NDF also wants the following items tabled for discussion:

- an effective and comprehensive rehabilitation program for the areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda within two months, with help from Norway and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization;

- an agreement on the Public Private Partnership and its effects on demolitions of urban poor communities within three months;

- the issue of skyrocketing prices of gas and oil, food, electricity, water and other basic commodities within three months;

- the issue of privatization of the Fabella and Orthopedic hospitals and related issues within three months;

- the issue of foreign destructive mining, the displacement of indigenous peoples and peasants, and destruction of their livelihood within four months;

- all other issues such as health, housing and rights of women, children and elderly, to be included in the Caser within six months.

Jalandoni said the government’s response to the NDF proposals will reflect the true intentions of President Benigno Aquino III with regards to the peace talks.

“Does (Aquino) take seriously the people’s demands for a just peace, or is his priority the imprisonment of NDF consultants and political prisoners?” Jalandoni said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/10/communists-insist-on-safe-passage/