Ilocos Reds hail successful peace talks

From the often pro-CPP Northern Dispatch Weekly (Aug 28): Ilocos Reds hail successful peace talks

Revolutionary forces in Ilocos commended the Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for “achieving significant advancement in the peace process”.

Formal peace negotiation were held in Oslo, Norway from August 22 to August 26.

“President Rodrigo Duterte’s effort to rectify the wrongs made against NDFP consultants by previous administration is instrumental for this historic undertaking,” says Rosa Guidon, NDFP Ilocos spokesperson.

The NDFP demanded the release of its detained personnel to previous administrations to jump-start the peace negotiations. Personnel covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) are immune to arrest and detention.

However, past GPH presidents failed to comply stalling the peace process.

Just four days after the start, both panels were able to agree on six major items.

Negotiators from both panels attached their initials on the following draft agreements – affirmation of previously signed documents, reconstitution of NDFP’s list of individuals protected under the JASIG, acceleration of the peace negotiations, the mode for an interim ceasefire, general amnesty for all political detainees and convening of the Joint Monitoring Committee of CARHRIHL.

Guidon also expressed appreciation of the extended ceasefire declaration made by the president. She emphasized that Duterte’s ceasefire order should include measures that will ensure that military and police combat troops, including paramilitary groups be confined in their barracks or camps during the period.

“The president’s ceasefire declaration and his appeal to GPH troops to avoid hostile actions against the revolutionary movement are useless unless his office has measures in place to monitor their compliance and ensure accountability of violators,” states Guidon. She cited the case of the 81st Infantry Battalion whose troops are currently encamped in different barangays of Sta. Lucia, Sta. Cruz, Cervantes, and Quirino.

“These troops continue to threaten, harass, and intimidate civilians even as peace talk is being undertaken and a ceasefire is in effect,” she added.

Last Wednesday, Duterte announced the extension of ceasefire and urged the police, military, and the entire government to be “friendly with the forces of the revolutionary government of the Communist Party of the Philippines”.

For their part, Guidon made it clear that all New People’s Army (NPA) unit in the region will abide by whatever announcement made by the NDFP in the following days and will remain in active defense.

“In case the NDFP and CPP extends the previous ceasefire order as a goodwill gesture, all NPA commands in the region are prepared enforce the order but will remain in active defense, ready to launch counter-offensives against operating AFP troops who wants to spoil the negotiations,” she explained.

Guidon capped her statement by noting that no less than Pres. Duterte recognized the strength of the revolutionary movement and existence of two governments in the country when he used “revolutionary government” to refer with the forces and areas under the leadership and influence of the CPP-NPA-NDFP.

 http://www.nordis.net/2016/08/ilocos-reds-hail-successful-peace-talks/