PH, NDF to resume talks, silence guns

From Rappler (Aug 26): PH, NDF to resume talks, silence guns

For the first time, the National Democratic Front also entertains the idea of discussing a joint ceasefire with the government



PEACE TALKS. Peace panels of the Philippine government and the National Dmocratic Front talk peace in Oslo, Norway. Photo by Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler

The Philippine government and communist rebels on Friday, August 26, signed an agreement that will silence guns on both sides for an indefinite period while they continue talks to end Asia's longest-running communist insurgency.

During signing ceremonies here on Friday, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF), the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), issued a new ceasefire order that effectively extends the initial 7-day limited ceasefire it issued before the talks.‪
The military earlier declared an indefinite ceasefire, too.

This will be followed by discussions for a permanent joint ceasefire arrangement between the two sides. The separate unilateral ceasefire declarations will be merged into a bilateral document within 60 days to detail the necessary rules of engagement that will guide actions of government troops and revolutionary forces on the ground to avoid clashes.

This is the first time that the NDF entertained the idea of discussing a joint ceasefire with the govenrment.

“This is a historic and unprecedented event. Many of us have‬
‪been here doing this before. We are looking at an opportunity that we can‬ ‪finish what we started a long time ago,” said Chief Peace Adviser Jesus‬ ‪Dureza.‬
"But there is still a lot of work to be done," Dureza added.

Both panels thanked the Norwegian government as the third party facilitator, and President Rodrigo Duterte for his full support for the negotiations.

"It is opportune to note to our fellow Filipinos that with these two ceasefires. You will expect the lowering of the level of violence," said chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III.

10 major agreements

The newly released document shows 10 major agreements accomplished during the resumption of negotiations this week in Oslo, the first round since an impasse in 2011.
Among them is a commitment that the government panel will recommend to Duterte the amnesty of all political prisoners, subject to the concurrence of Congress.

There is also the reaffirmation of previously signed agreements, a reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, and an agreement to fast-track the timeline of the process.

The Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) will also be reactivated, a mechanism similar to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) in the peace talks between the Philippine governmant and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. It handles issues that crop up on the ground including possible encounters while the ceasefire is in place.

Both parties also agreed to fast-track the peace negotiatons by agreeing to simultaneously discuss substantive agenda instead of resolving them one by one – socioeconomic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, and the end of hostilities and disposition of forces.

They aim to resolve socioeconomic reforms, expected to be the most contentious issue, within 6 months.

The next round of talks will happen October 8-12, where the panels will begin to discuss contentious issues.

Negotiating teams from both sides held marathon sessions since Monday, August 22, at the Scandic Holmenkollen Park Hotel.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/144282-philippines-cpp-sign-agreement