GRP, NDF agree on indefinite 'silencing of guns'

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 26): GRP, NDF agree on indefinite 'silencing of guns'

The GRP and the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) panels finally sealed an agreement of an indefinite unilateral ceasefire order to the New People's Army (NPA) and their people's militia.

The indefinite ceasefire capped the six-day marathon sessions of the resumption of peace talks between the government and the communist insurgents in Oslo, Norway from August 22 to 26.

The CPP-NDF-New People's Army (NPA) ceasefire will start Aug. 28 after the seven-day (August 21 - 27) ceasefire declared earlier by the NDF during the Oslo talks.

It was the highlight of the six agenda agreed by both panels at the end of the GRP-NDF round of talks

On Thursday, both panels reached agreements on six major agenda taken up at the resumption of the peace talks brokered by the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG).

In a statement, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the Oslo round is a milestone under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

It is an accomplishment that would be welcomed by the Filipino people, he said.

“Not only has President Duterte walked the extra mile. He has also taken a step back to give the NDF space under his democratic and inclusive government,” Dureza said.

Dureza said they are coming home with a promise of a just and lasting peace and our soldiers and the combatants of the NDF finally coming to terms that the war must end.

Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, head of the GRP negotiating panel, also expressed thanks and appreciation for the patience and candidness of their counterparts with whom he has been holding formal and backdoor negotiations for more than 14 years.

Bello said the government was looking towards a final peace agreement with the NDF to end almost half a century of armed hostilities across the Philippine countryside.

Bello's remarks were reciprocated by the chair of the NDF peace panel Luis Jalandoni, who expressed their gratitude towards the determination of President Duterte of ending the war in the country and forging peace with the rebel forces.

According to Bello, the releases of 21 detained NDF consultants were crucial in the resumption of the peace negotiations.

The government noted that formal session was the first after five years and it reaffirmed all previously signed agreements between the GRP and the NDFP that was started by the The Hague Joint Declaration in 1992 and proceeded by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) in 1996 and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights And International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) in 1998 which were all signed under the administration of President Fidel Ramos.

The panels also agreed to reconstitute the JASIG list after the first document was corrupted. The encrypted list will contain the photos and identities of NDF consultants who are still underground and will be immune to arrest while the peace process is undergoing.

The government will issue documents of acknowledgement for the NDF consultants still in hiding and for the 54 “publicly known NDF personalities.”

It was also announced that the negotiating parties agreed to accelerate the peace negotiations and set timelines for the completion of the remaining substantive agenda.

Still to be discussed are the details of the socio-economic reforms; political and constitutional reforms; and end of hostilities and disposition of forces; the amnesty proclamation; joint monitoring committees; further releases of detained NDF personnel; and the modality and mechanics of the ceasefire.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=917653