Solon calls on government, communist movement to resume peace talks

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 18): Solon calls on government, communist movement to resume peace talks

Former government-peace-negotiator now IBAP Party-list Representative Silvestre Bello III called on the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army (CPP-NDF-NPA) or CNN to return to the negotiating table without preconditions.

He reminded both parties that precondition as basis for the resumption of the talks is a violation of the Hague Conventions on peaceful settlement of disputes that peace talks must be conducted without preconditions.

Bello revealed that during his last visit to Jose Maria Sison, chair of Communist Party of the Philippines, and Luis Jalandoni, head of the CPP-peace negotiators, he advised them not to press for the release of their consultants to continue the peace process with government.

Bello said it is wrong to set preconditions to the talks, adding that it also applies to the current administration which requires ceasefire as a basis for the resumption of the talks.

Bello said ceasefire with the communist rebels is tantamount to calling them to surrender their firearms.

“I’ve been trying to convince both the CNN and the government to return to the negotiating table without any precondition,” he said.

Bello stressed that the country cannot afford partial peace where it pursues a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on one hand and fights the communist movement, Moro National Liberation Front and other rebel forces on the other hand.

“If we want progress, we must have total peace all over the country,” he said.

He said he has been wondering why government insists on the Bangsamoro Basic Law but silent with the talks with the communist insurgency.

Bello was the lead peace-panel negotiator in the talks with the CNN during the Ramos Administration.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=794568