A year after giving up on peace negotiations under the Aquino administration, the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is open to resuming talks with the Philippine government in 2015.
In a podcast posted on his website, NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison said the two parties may return to the negotiating table by mid-January.
"Puwedeng mag-formal talks muli ang mga negotiating panel ng dalawang panig sa ikalawang hati ng Enero, matapos ang bisita ng Papa," Sison said in the podcast, recorded last week.
"Kung mapakatino ang rehimeng Aquino at OPAPP [Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process], posible pang matapos ang comprehensive agreement on economic reforms at agreement on truce and cooperation bago matapos ang term ni Aquino," he added.
Sison said a "special team" composed of representatives from both parties has been the agenda of the fresh peace talks since last September.
In April last year, the Philippine government ended its peace negotiations with the NDFP after a 22-month impasse, citing the lack of "sincerity and political will" on the part of the party and its affiliate groups – the NDF and the New People's Army (NPA).
'Friends of process' brokering talks
In a separate text message, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said there have been no meetings between the government and the NDFP on the possible resumption of peace talks.
"It is true, however, that friends of the process have been shuttling between the two parties to explore possible parameters for restarting talks at the earliest possible time," Deles told GMA News Online.
She added that Sison's "positive remarks indicate that common ground between the two parties may indeed be broadening."
In a separate text message, government peace panel chair Alexander Padilla also said "there is nothing yet to confirm" regarding the resumption of talks with the NDFP.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which heads the NDF, is set to commemorate its 46th anniversary on Friday.
During its founding anniversary last year, the CPP central committee said it "has no choice but to wait for the next regime to engage in serious negotiations."
Ceasefire a hindrance
In the same podcast, Sison said the government-proposed ceasefire between the military and the NPA is a big hindrance to the resumption of talks.
"Malaking balakid sa peace negotiations ang kagustuhan ng rehimen na magtigil-putukan at magsurrender na lang basta ang mga pwersang rebolusyonaryo," the NDFP official said.
He also demanded that the government release NDFP consultants and 500 political prisoners.
Deles meanwhile said that the Philippine government wants to make sure that peace talks with the NDFP will resume "on the basis of a doable and time-bound agenda."
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2010, President Benigno Aquino III said peace talks with the communists will be difficult without a ceasefire.
"Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: Huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain," Aquino said four years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.