CPP founder Sison optimistic about upcoming talks between government and NDF

From InterAksyon (Jun 2): CPP founder Sison optimistic about upcoming talks between government and NDF



Jose Maria Sison at the office of the National Democratic Front (NDF) in The Hague.

Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said on Thursday (June 2) that the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the negotiation panel of the in-coming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte would start preliminary talks on June 15 in Oslo, Norway.

In a tele-conference, Sison, who's been living in exile in Utrecht in the Netherlands, said: "The preliminary talks will start mid-June in Oslo and we’re confident it will be a good start as part of confidence building in preparation for a formal peace talks."

The tele-conference was held at the headquarters of the Ibon Foundation in Quezon City.

He said he was confident the NDF, the negotiating arm of the CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA), and the Duterte team could agree without delay on substantive agenda.

Duterte has tasked Jesus Dureza, in-coming secretary heading the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAP), with the support of incoming Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to represent him in the peace talks, while the left will be represented by NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni and NDF panel member Fidel Agcaoili.

Meantime, Sison warned that "peace spoilers," such Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy lieutenant senior grade, against floating coup rumors.

"The Duterte government and NDF should watch this," Sison said. "Supilin ang ano anumang coup. Wala yang si Trillanes. Kapag nagsama ang Duterte at NDF para sa sambayanan, tayo ang susupilin ng mga 'yan. Huwag matakot. Tahakin ang tamang paraan ng pagbabago. Lumaban."

He also assured his comrades he would be coming home soon as soon as a peace agreement could be forged between the government and the NDF.

He took note of assassination rumors against him and also assurance that he would not be hurt or killed by his enemies while he is in the country.

"Assassination? Hindi naman ako basta-basta uuwi ng walang sapat na garantiya sa aking seguridad," he said. "Sakaling mauwi ako at mapatay, panamagutan 'yan ni Duterte."

To make sure his life would not be compromised, he said this would be included in the "technicalities" of the peace agreement.

"I will asking through the NDF the Duterte government especially the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to issue a Dutch visa and residency," he said. "I want to make sure of this, dahil ayaw ko naman 'yung nasa ere ako at walang malalandingan sakaling may mangyari na naman na hindi maganda sa proseso ng usaping pangkapayapaan."

"Dapat may return visa ako sa Dutch governtment and residency," he added.

Sison said the prospect of genuine peace agreement was high under the Duterte admibnistration. At the same time, he lashed out against President Benigno Aquino III for his "hypocrisy."

http://interaksyon.com/article/128575/cpp-founder-sison-optimistic-about-upcoming-talks-between-government-and-ndf