The entire Philippine government team is all set for the next round of negotiation in Oslo, Norway, on October 6 to 10, an official said Sunday.
“All the Reciprocal Working Groups are functioning well and the Reciprocal Working Committees have conducted meetings too. I think it's all systems go for the next round. We're ready for peace,” said Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, League of Cities of Philippines national president and adviser of the Philippine Government Peace Panel for the talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
The peace talks between the Philippine government and the NDFP was stalled during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III and was revived when President Rodrigo Duterte gave the go signal for the release on bail of several top-ranking leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) who are said to be advisers of the NDFP for the negotiations.
Among them are Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, who are said to be the CPP chairman and secretary general, respectively.
The Tiamzon couple and other CPP leaders were released several days before the first round of talks last August 22 to 28, also held in Oslo, Norway. They traveled to the Norwegian capital and participated in the talks and went back to country a few days after. They are expected to join the next round of peace negotiation.
The CPP and NDFP, together with its armed wing, the New People's Army, have been waging a nearly five-decade war in the Philippine countryside. They are pushing for genuine agrarian reform, national industrialization, independent foreign policy and other programs.
"President Duterte has acknowledged that basic reforms must be implemented. In fact, the choice of progressive individuals in key social reform departments of government was a clear indication that the President is serious in addressing the roots causes of this protracted war,” Pamintuan said.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.