Incoming Duterte gov't to resume talks with Reds

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/06/15/061516-ndf.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">CPP-NDF leaders Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni meet with Duterte peace negotiators led by Jesus Dureza in Norway. <em>Thirdy Ado, ABS-CBN News</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to resume formal peace negotiations with Maoist-led rebels in Oslo next month, one of Duterte&#x27;s senior advisers said on Thursday, after the talks stalled four years ago.</p><p>The Philippines began talks with the communist National Democratic Front in 1986 to resolve one of the world&#x27;s longest-running insurgencies, which has killed more than 40,000 and stunted growth in the Philippines over almost 50 years.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/06/16/oslo1.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Jesus Dureza, Duterte&#x27;s peace adviser, said the agreement came after two days of informal talks with Europe-based exiled rebel leaders in Norway.</p><p>&quot;We will recommend the release of all political prisoners to Duterte once he assumes the presidency and both sides will work for an interim ceasefire to boost the formal resumption of peace talks in the third week of July in Oslo,&quot; Dureza told reporters.</p><p>He posted a copy of the joint agreement on his Facebook page Thursday. The statement noted that both parties will resume peace talks in Oslo, Norway in the third week of July.</p><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameBorder="0" height="483" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fphoto.php%3Ffbid%3D1318340891527036%26set%3Da.518984788129321.132970.100000534127840%26type%3D3&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe><p>The signed document shows that the government and the NDF will discuss several agenda items during the resumption of the talks.</p><p>- amnesty proclamation for the release of all political prisoners subject to concurrence by Congress.</p><p>- mode of interim ceasefire.</p><p>- affirmation of previously signed agreements.</p><p>- accelerated process of negotiations.</p><p>- reconstitution of the JASIG list.</p><p>The government panel, meanwhile, will recommend to President-elect Duterte the following:</p><p>- immediate release of all NDF consultants and other JASIG-protected persons</p><p>- immediate release of prisoners/detainees based on humanitarian grounds.</p><p>The agreement was signed by all representatives.</p><p>The government is represented by incoming labor secretary Silvestre Bello, Hernani Braganza, and incoming peace adviser Jesus G. Dureza.</p><p>The NDF was represented by panel chair Luis Jalandoni, Fidel Agcaoili and chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div style="padding-top:66.375%"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1471326" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></div></figure><p>Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum, the Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process, witnessed the talks.</p><p>Slattum congratulated the participants for deciding to assume formal peace negotiations. &quot;Let&#x27;s hope this is the first of many meetings and the first step towards lasting piece,&quot; she said.</p><p>Sison added the NDF is &quot;determined to move forward in the peace process.&quot;</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/06/16/oslo2.jpg"/></figure></div><p>The tough-talking Duterte formally takes office on June 30. A former mayor of Davao City, he is the first president from the southern Philippines, where the rebellion has been fought, since the late 1960s.</p><p>Dureza said the two sides were &quot;very optimistic&quot; the talks would succeed after Duterte agreed to appoint to his Cabinet two left-wing members supported by the rebels, with another two positions promised.</p><p>Brokered by Norway, the peace talks stalled four years ago when outgoing President Benigno Aquino declined to free political prisoners, including members of the rebels&#x27; negotiating team who had been arrested.</p><p>Renato Reyes, secretary-general of left-wing group Bayan (Nation), said his group hoped Duterte would approve the release of sick and elderly prisoners on humanitarian grounds.</p><p>More than 500 political prisoners are being held, including 19 members of the rebels&#x27; negotiating team.</p><p>Duterte promised during the presidential election campaign to end all insurgencies in the Philippines, including a more violent conflict with Islamist rebels that has killed more than 120,000 people and displaced 2 million over the past 47 years.</p><p>Dureza said the resumption of peace talks would be formalized once Duterte took office. The two sides also agreed to adhere to all previous agreements and to discuss social and economic reforms, he said. <strong>With reports by Reuters and Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau</strong></p>

MANILA - Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to resume formal peace negotiations with Maoist-led rebels in Oslo next month, one of Duterte's senior advisers said on Thursday, after the talks stalled four years ago.

Incoming Duterte gov't to resume talks with Reds | ABS-CBN

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Incoming Duterte gov't to resume talks with Reds

Incoming Duterte gov't to resume talks with Reds

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 16, 2016 12:27 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 16, 2016 01:03 PM PHT

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