MUST READ! Reds Remain Committed to Resume Peace Talks

MUST READ! Reds Remain Committed to Resume Peace Talks

MAGAZINE
Published February 15,2017
http://magazinereaders.blogspot.com/

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on Wednesday once again urged the Duterte administration to resume the stalled peace talks between the government and communist rebels.

NDFP legal consultant, Atty. Rachel Pastores said in a media forum arranged by the Pinoy Media Center that they are still optimistic that President Rodrigo Duterte would overturn his decision of ending peace talks.

“I would say that the peace negotiations were moving forward based on the substantive agenda. Both parties were really cooperating in order to come up with agreements. Major agreements have already been forged,” Atty. Pastores said.

“Nag-iinit pa nga lang 'yung discussion at gumawa ng ways para mapabilis. It is unfortunate na na-terminate... on our part, kailangan talagang i-resume and peace negotiations,” she added.

Pastores also detailed in the forum the "major achievements" made from the first until the third round of formal talks.

She said both the government and the NDF have already agreed on an outline that will provide "ground rules’ to speed up the formal dialogue.

“We do not want to lose the momentum generated from the third round of the peace talks. We will, despite President Duterte’s declaration of an all-out war, continue our consultations with the Filipino people on our proposal for the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER),” said Pastores.

Pastores said the CASER would address the root causes of the armed conflicts, like poverty.

“CASER is about developing the national economy through agrarian reform and rural development, national industrialization and environmental protection; upholding people’s rights; and advancing economic sovereignty and national patrimony," she said.

"It is also about molding an independent foreign policy, which gives substance to the Duterte government’s vision of a sovereign Philippines,” Pasteros added.

She also said both parties have started discussing the first substantive issue of agrarian reform and rural development.

“This most significant historical achievement stands to benefit the Filipino peasant majority. It would be regrettable if the gains reached would be set aside by those in the government and the ruling elitets who are trying to derail the peace process,” Pastores added.

Duterte earlier ordered the GRP to pull out the peace negotiations, ahead of a special meeting in The Netherlands this month to discuss the bilateral ceasefire.

Duterte’s pronouncement came after he announced that he has lifted the government’s ceasefire with communist rebels. The CPP-NPA had already decided to terminate its unilateral ceasefire beginning February 10 after the administration supposedly failed to fulfill its promise to release all political prisoners.