PH, NDF resume talks in Manila to make ceasefire stable

From Rappler (Sep 22): PH, NDF resume talks in Manila to make ceasefire stable

The two camps agree to hold talks in Manila in between formal meetings in Norway – the third party facilitator – to fast track the process that government aims to complete in a year

MANILA TALKS. The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front agree to hold talks in Manila to fast track the process. Photo from the Twitter page of government negotiator Hernani Braganza

 

Negotiators of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) resumed talks in Manila this week to initiate discussions on a bilateral ceasefire agreement between the military and the New People's Army (NPA), an accord that they aim to complete during the second round of talks in Oslo next month.

 

"What we have at the moment is a unilateral ceasefire declared by both parties. We hope to sign a bilateral agreement in Oslo for a joint ceasefire, which is more durable and permanent," said government negotiator Hernani Braganza, who supervises the ceasefire committee.

 

The agreement to declare the silence of the guns was accomplished during the first round of talks in Oslo, Norway in August. The government also committed to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the grant of amnesty to all political prisoners,

There have been no reports of major clashes and incidents since the first round of talks in August despite NDF complaints about military activities in certain areas.

 

The two camps aim to come up with operational guidelines that the military and the NPA are expected to follow to avoid misencounters or other violations.

 

"We are also expected to come up with a mechanism for reporting of ceasefire violations," Braganza said.

 

The government and NDF ceasefire committees are chaired by Philippine Country Director of Philippine Alert Francisco Lara and Fidel Agcaoili, respectively. (READ: Oslo talks: 'The most kind and most warm negotiators')

 

Fast-tracking the process

 

To fast track the process that the government aims to complete in one year, the two camps agreed to hold talks in Manila in between formal meetings in Norway, the third party facilitator.

 

"This is another breakthrough in the peace process. The peace panels, through their committees and sub-committees, are holding talks in the Philippines, not only in Oslo," Braganza said.

 

It was held at the Royal Norwegian embassy in Taguig, September 20-21, or two weeks before the scheduled second round of talks scheduled October 6-11 in Oslo. Norwegian facilitator Elisabeth Slattum is in Manila for the talks. (READ: Norwegian facilitator 'cautiously optimistic' about PH, NDF talks)

 

"Whatever was agreed upon by the working groups in the Philippines will be elevated to the panel level during formal talks in Oslo for discussion and approval," Braganza said.

The two camps also discussed monitoring mechanisms for human rights and international humanitarian law. They revived the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC), the group tasked to implement the comprehensive agreement on respect for human rights and international humanitarian law (CARHR-IHL) signed in 1998.

They discussed the maintenance of office that will have dedicated personnel to receive complaints on violations of CARHR-IHL. They also discussed joint activities such as information and education campaign on human rights and international humantarian law.

 

The second round of talks will also include discussions on substantive agreements on socio-economic reforms (CASER), political and constitutional reforms (PCR) and end of hostilities/disposition of forces (EOH-DOF).

http://www.rappler.com/nation/146986-philippines-ndf-manila-talks