OSLO, Norway — Communist leaders, spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, arrived before noon yesterday (5:30 p.m., Philippine time), a day ahead of the historic resumption of the formal peace talks between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Barely 48 hours after their release at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the Tiamzons, together with the main bulk of the Philippine government contingent, traveled for 18 hours, with stopovers in Taiwan and Amsterdam.
The Tiamzons were met at the Scandic Holmenkollen Hotel by an advanced group of Philippine panel members, led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and former Agrarian Secretary Hernani Braganza, as well as other released political prisoners that included former CPP chairman Alan Jasminez.
There was not a tinge of animosity between representatives from the government and the communist group when they gathered at the hotel lobby. Bello even recalled how a hotel executive asked them if they had really gone to the Scandic Hotel for peace talks. “(The hotel executive) was surprised that we could be cordial with each other, not like the Israelis and Palestinians who also had peace talks here,” Bello said.
Emotional reunion CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison was not expected to be at the hotel until later in the day, and the Tiamzons were expecting nothing less than an emotional and historic reunion between them and the 76-year-old leader. Benito recalled that he and his wife were among the first to welcome Sison on the day he was set free by President Corazon Aquino in 1986. Benito was only a 35-year-old national leader of the CPP then. Benito would go on to become CPP chairman; and Wilma, CPP secretary general. “It’s the other way around this time. It’s Manong Jo’s turn to welcome us from detention,” Benito told the Manila Bulletin.
The formal resumption of the peace talks starts today at 9 a.m. (3 p.m., Philippine time) with both parties picking up from the joint agreement signed during the exploratory talks held last June 14 and 15. Among the salient points to be discussed would be the reconstitution of the Joint Agreement of Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) list; the amnesty proclamation for the release of all detained political prisoners; and the mode of an interim ceasefire that would be called by both parties.
As it is, unilateral ceasefires declared separately by the government and the leftist group, as well as the release of 20 political prisoners who will act as NDF consultants, have formed the backbone of the resumption of the talks. “The gestures of goodwill are unprecedented. And this bodes well for what we are to embark on this week,” said presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza before the groups departed for Oslo Saturday. Lawyer
Paul Montejo, chairman of the Philippine panel’s working group on releases, said the Tiamzons and the other NDF consultants, who were allowed to post bail, will remain free throughout the duration of the peace process, and not just for the duration of next week’s formal resumption of the talks.
However, in not posing any objections to the release of the political prisoners, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) laid down certain conditions. For the duration of the peace negotiations in Oslo, the released political prisoners should report to the Philippine embassy or consulate “whenever required.” “That the DOJ and OSG did not oppose the bail application (of the political prisoners), that was a very big help so that the peace talks could start,” Montejo acknowledged.
http://www.mb.com.ph/govt-ndf-key-negotiators-meet-and-greet-in-oslo-talks-start-today/
Barely 48 hours after their release at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City, the Tiamzons, together with the main bulk of the Philippine government contingent, traveled for 18 hours, with stopovers in Taiwan and Amsterdam.
RIGHT TONE, WINNING NOTE — Spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon (wearing black and red jackets, respectively) are met by fellow communist leaders Alan Jasminez (white-haired) and Renante Gamara, and representatives of the Royal Norwegian government. The couple was fetched at the Oslo Airport by Norway’s Special Envoy for Peace Process Elizabeth Slattum using the Karaoke taxi in the background. (Rocky Nazareno)
The Tiamzons were met at the Scandic Holmenkollen Hotel by an advanced group of Philippine panel members, led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and former Agrarian Secretary Hernani Braganza, as well as other released political prisoners that included former CPP chairman Alan Jasminez.
There was not a tinge of animosity between representatives from the government and the communist group when they gathered at the hotel lobby. Bello even recalled how a hotel executive asked them if they had really gone to the Scandic Hotel for peace talks. “(The hotel executive) was surprised that we could be cordial with each other, not like the Israelis and Palestinians who also had peace talks here,” Bello said.
Emotional reunion CPP founding chairman Jose Maria Sison was not expected to be at the hotel until later in the day, and the Tiamzons were expecting nothing less than an emotional and historic reunion between them and the 76-year-old leader. Benito recalled that he and his wife were among the first to welcome Sison on the day he was set free by President Corazon Aquino in 1986. Benito was only a 35-year-old national leader of the CPP then. Benito would go on to become CPP chairman; and Wilma, CPP secretary general. “It’s the other way around this time. It’s Manong Jo’s turn to welcome us from detention,” Benito told the Manila Bulletin.
The formal resumption of the peace talks starts today at 9 a.m. (3 p.m., Philippine time) with both parties picking up from the joint agreement signed during the exploratory talks held last June 14 and 15. Among the salient points to be discussed would be the reconstitution of the Joint Agreement of Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) list; the amnesty proclamation for the release of all detained political prisoners; and the mode of an interim ceasefire that would be called by both parties.
As it is, unilateral ceasefires declared separately by the government and the leftist group, as well as the release of 20 political prisoners who will act as NDF consultants, have formed the backbone of the resumption of the talks. “The gestures of goodwill are unprecedented. And this bodes well for what we are to embark on this week,” said presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza before the groups departed for Oslo Saturday. Lawyer
Paul Montejo, chairman of the Philippine panel’s working group on releases, said the Tiamzons and the other NDF consultants, who were allowed to post bail, will remain free throughout the duration of the peace process, and not just for the duration of next week’s formal resumption of the talks.
However, in not posing any objections to the release of the political prisoners, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) laid down certain conditions. For the duration of the peace negotiations in Oslo, the released political prisoners should report to the Philippine embassy or consulate “whenever required.” “That the DOJ and OSG did not oppose the bail application (of the political prisoners), that was a very big help so that the peace talks could start,” Montejo acknowledged.
http://www.mb.com.ph/govt-ndf-key-negotiators-meet-and-greet-in-oslo-talks-start-today/
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