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Fourth round of GRP-NDFP talks finally opens; ceasefire in the agenda

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands—The opening ceremony of the fourth round of formal talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) pushed through this morning, both parties making yet another unprecedented move towards achieving more substantial agreements despite tensed negotiations the previous day.

With nearly all the negotiators, consultants, advisers and resource persons of both parties wearing traditional barong Tagalog and ternos, the ceremony regained some of the light-heartedness of the previous three rounds seemingly lost in the frantic informal discussions marking the first day of negotiations.

Delayed by only a few minutes, the ceremony went as planned and was marked with congratulatory remarks at NDFP Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison’s recovery from a month-long hospitalization.

Deviating from his prepared speech, Sison thanked the Royal Norwegian Government for agreeing to facilitate the talks in The Netherlands to allow his participation in this round of talks.

Norwegian Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process Elisabeth Slattum congratulated the GRP and NDFP panels for showing “flexibility” and “creativity” to move the talks forward, as well as on “seek(ing) solutions when others would just give up.”

“I would like to congratulate the parties and the President of the Philippines for working through a tough crisis and for showing courage, perseverance and genuine commitment for the achievement of peace for the benefit of the Filipino people,” Slattum said.

“This is the farthest point that we have already achieved in our negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front.  We are on our fourth round of talks,” President Peace Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said.

“I am seeing and noticing that we that we are no longer in the concept of negotiating but already sharing common values and common aspirations for a better Philippines,” he said.

“The NDFP Negotiating Panel comes to this fourth round of formal talks determined as ever to push and accelerate the negotiations in the hopes of forging a comprehensive agreement on social and economic reforms by the end of 2017,” Fidel Agcaoili, the Left’s chief negotiator, for his part, said.

Just a means to an end

Agcaoili, however, reiterated in his opening statement the NDFP’s stand on the bilateral ceasefire proposal after GRP President Rodrigo Duterte insisted on a signed agreement in this round of talks.

“I share Professor Sison’s positive views and reiterate the wisdom of securing the approval of the CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms) ahead of any bilateral ceasefire agreement, unless both agreements can be signed simultaneously. It is important to stress this as the issue of ceasefire should not be pursued as an end in itself,” Agcaoili said.

“Ceasefires, whether unilateral or bilateral, are just a means to an end. Its main purpose is to create conditions conducive to reaching agreements on basic re- forms that are satisfactory to both sides,” Agcaoili added.

The opening ceremony was postponed by a day after the GRP informed the NDFP of Duterte’s new “basest conditionalities” that include a signed bilateral ceasefire agreement.

In response, Agcaoili mentioned a memorandum of understanding that may break the impasse on the issue of the bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“The NDFP believes it is possible to have a bilateral ceasefire agreement that conforms to the position that simultaneous and reciprocal declarations of unilateral ceasefire can be agreed upon and bound by a Memorandum of Understanding that shall be issued at the end of the fourth round of formal talks,” Agcaoili said in his speech.

Both parties said the remaining four days of the round would be spent on the continuation of the discussions on the proposed bilateral ceasefire agreement, the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in respect to the release of all political prisoners, and the implementation of socio-economic projects for the Filipino people. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

LARAWAN: Pormal na pagbubukas ng usapang pangkapayapaan

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The Netherlands
April 3, 2017

2nd Day: Everyone is hoping the barong Tagalogs would be worn today

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands— After a day’s delay, Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiators said they agreed to proceed with the opening ceremony of their fourth round of formal talks today.  Already announced before lunch time, the agreement became final at past nine in the evening yesterday. (Three o’clock Tuesday morning, Philippine time.)

“We will wear our barong Tagalog,” GRP Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said of the panels’ opening ceremony plans set at 10 o’clock this morning. (Four o’clock, Philippine time)

Relief among about a hundred peace consultants, advisers and staff as well as journalists covering the event greeted the announcement.  It had been a decade and a half when a formal round was last cancelled after the negotiators have arrived at the venue of the talks.

“Problem-solving”

Both GRP and NDFP negotiators are being positive in describing the delays in the formal opening of the talks.  Dureza said the delay is because of back-channel efforts to iron out issues before formal negotiations. “That way, everything is smoother during the formal talks,” he said.  NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili is saying the same: the parties are at a “problem-solving” stage.

They are not directly stating it, but GRP President Duterte’s new directives are probably the reasons for the delay.  Just as the opening ceremony was supposed to be held yesterday morning, Duterte in Cagayan de Oro City was rattling off about his four “barest conditionalities,” including a signed bilateral agreement and for the NDFP to stop collecting revolutionary tax, claim territories and for them to release of all their prisoners of war (POWs). These were probably what he called his negotiators about yesterday. In the past, conditionalities by a party beyond what The Hague Joint Declaration stated—addressing the roots of the armed conflict and bringing about a just and lasting peace—had always been rejected by the other.

But in response to Duterte, the NDFP has already assured the GRP of flexibility and willingness in discussing the latter’s bilateral ceasefire proposal.  “Because the GRP negotiating panel is coming to the Netherlands for the fourth round of formal talks, the NDFP negotiating panel is willing to be flexible and is open to discussing with its counterpart what kind of bilateral ceasefire agreement is desired by the GRP in place of the unilateral ceasefire,” NDFP panel Chairperson Fidel Agcaoili said in a statement last March 31.  “The NDFP is one with the GRP in desiring to resolve the serious concerns that have been raised in relation to the previous six-month unilateral ceasefires, mindful that addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring that any ceasefire agreement in the future would be more effective,” he added.  Obviously, the NDFP wanted the ceasefire proposal to be discussed in formal negotiations.

The NDFP has also repeatedly asked the GRP to suspend military and police operations to allow the safe release of more POWs.  The requests are unheeded and the New People’s Army (NPA) has only managed to release two of its POWs so far.  Meanwhile, the AFP seems happy to continue its all-out war against the Communist guerrillas.

While the Armed Forces of the Philippines is raining bombs on the countryside, Duterte said he wants a signed bilateral ceasefire agreement before the fourth round of talks can proceed.  His announcement also came after his National Security Council was convened and his Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana called the NPA as “terrorists,” “thugs” and “extortionists.”  The GRP has also decided not to reinstate its unilateral ceasefire declaration as agreed upon in their March 11 GRP-NDFP Utrecht Joint Statement, forcing the Communist Party of the Philippines to say it too would not longer declare a unilateral ceasefire due to the GRP’s refusal to reciprocate.

The difference in tone of the parties’ statements could not be more obvious.  Such has caused suspensions, cancellations, collapse, abortions and declarations of indefinite recess of formal negotiations in the past.

It would not have been the first time

If the opening ceremony would not push through this morning and the fourth round of formal talks would be cancelled altogether, it would not be the first time it would happen in the history of the 31-year GRP-NDFP peace talks.

On October 14, 1994 in De Bilt, The Netherlands, the GRP rejected the common draft drawn by the “small committees” on the joint agreement on safety and immunity guarantees and unilaterally declared a collapse of the talks.

In Brussels, Belgium on June 27, 1995, the GRP refused to release the late NDFP consultant Sotero Llamas and then President Fidel Ramos suspended the formal talks.

On April 22, 1997 in The Hague, The Netherlands, GRP declared an indefinite recess of the formal talks after NDFP rejected its “two options” proposal to amend The Hague Joint Declaration.

In Oslo, Norway on June 13, 2001, the GRP suspended formal talks in protest over the killing of the notorious Rodolfo Aguinaldo in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

On September 21, 2002, the GRP aborted the scheduled formal talks after the late Defense secretary Angelo Reyes convened a special meeting of the Cabinet Oversight Committee on Internal Security which reversed a Cabinet decision chaired by then President Gloria Arroyo to resume formal talks with the NDFP.

It is notable that it had always been the GRP which cancelled the talks.

Chilly Noordwijk

It had turned chilly and foggy by the time the journalists decided there would be no more stories to be had at past nine o’clock last night and started their walk back to their respective hotels.  This seaside town was asleep and there were hardly locals who were out at that time.  At the Radisson Blu Hotel lobby, some GRP and NDFP negotiators clustered into groups discussing what the second day of the talks would be like.  The Royal Norwegian Government facilitators themselves were in a corner, probably discussing strategies for possible scenarios.

Dawn has broken here, but the sun, hidden behind a gloomy sky, has yet to make its presence felt.  Rains are predicted to fall on this historic city today.  But no announcement of cancellation of the opening ceremony has come during the night and the journalists are anticipating covering yet another formal talks opening ceremony.

Everyone seems to be hoping the barong Tagalogs would be worn this morning. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

LARAWAN: Pag-uusap hinggil sa tigil-putukan

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands
April 2, 2017

GRP and NDFP panels continue ceasefire discussions

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands–Peace negotiators of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) resumed their panel-to-panel discussions late in the afternoon today to explore ways to address the proposed bilateral ceasefire agreement.

As of 4:30 in the afternoon local time (10:30 in the evening, Philippine time), the panels allowed some members of the Philippine media covering the talks to take photos.

Prof. Jose Ma. Sison was observed to be in a lively mood during the photo-opportunity.

 

LARAWAN: Pag-uusap hinggil sa agenda

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands
April 2, 2017

Peace panels start agenda-setting

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands–GRP and NDFP peace negotiators have started their first panel-to-panel meeting to set the agenda for the fourth round of formal peace negotiators in this seaside town.

GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III and members Hernani Braganza, Angela Trinidad, Rene Sarmiento and Tony Arellano were seated across the table from NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and members Coni Ledesma, Benito Tiamzon and Asterio Palima.

NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison and senior adviser Luis Jalandoni were also present.

Both panels earlier said the Noordwijk round of talks would focus on socio-economic reforms and the proposed bilateral ceasefire agreement. # (Video by Jola Diones-Mamangun)

 

Panels postpone opening to tomorrow

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands–The NDFP and the GRP said the opening ceremony of the fourth round of formal peace negotiations have been postponed to tomorrow, April 3.

NDFP peace negotiator Benito Tiamzon said both panels have decided to hold the opening ceremony tomorrow at 10 o’clock in the morning (five o’clock in the afternoon, Philippine time).

Tiamzon added the panel-to-panel meeting would resume their agenda-setting negotiations at about three o’clock this afternoon.

This is the first time since 2004 the opening ceremony of the formal talks has been postponed by at least a day.

Earlier today, President Rodrigo Duterte called members of the GRP panel to issue new instructions to his negotiators. (Raymund B. Villanueva.  Featured photo by Jola Diones-Mamangun)

GRP and NDFP announce peace talks opening delay

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Chief negotiators Silvestre Bello III and Fidel Agcaoili addressed representatives of migrant groups here in The Netherlands to announce the delay in the opening of the GRP-NDFP formal talks.

GRP’s Bello said their panel received new instructions from President Rodrigo Duterte which they have to discuss with the NDFP.

The migrants, majority of whom are Migrante International members, were invited to witness the opening ceremony.

Duterte call delays peace talks opening

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NOORDWIJK, The Netherlands—Even before it started, the fourth round of formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is proving to be “difficult and exacting.”

The GRP and NDFP negotiating panels announced the opening ceremony of their fourth round of formal talks is postponed to “around one or two o’clock in the afternoon” (six o seven o’clock in the evening, Philippine time) to allow discussions on President Rodrigo Duterte’s new instructions to his negotiators.

Speaking before hundreds of Filipino migrants in this country invited to attend the opening event originally scheduled this morning, GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III (GRP) said they received a call from Duterte which they would first discuss with the NDFP panel.

“We apologize for the delay,” Bello told the disappointed migrants.

NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili nonetheless invited the migrants to stay and wait for the opening ceremony.

“I know many of you took a long bus ride to attend the opening ceremony, but these things happen (during negotiations),” Agcaoili said.

Both the GRP and the NDFP refused to divulge the nature of Duterte’s call and its implications on the holding of this round of talks.

The panels initially agreed during their March 10 to 11 informal talks in Utrecht to focus on the socio-economic reforms and bilateral ceasefire agenda for this round of talks.

But Duterte said last March 25 he has to consult his security advisers on his government’s response to the Communist Party of the Philippines’ announcement to reinstate its unilateral ceasefire declaration in accordance with the GRP-NDFP Utrecht Joint Statement of March 11.

“I have to consult the Speaker. I have to consult the Senate President. I have to convene the National Security Council. And I have to ask the generals of the army and the police kung ano ba,” Duterte said.

After the National Security Council meeting last Friday, Bello announced the GRP has decided not to declare a unilateral ceasefire.

It has happened before

Delays in opening and closing ceremonies of formal talks have happened in the 2011 formal peace talks and in the first three rounds of negotiations with the Duterte government.

The 2011 formal peace talks, the only one under the previous Benigno Aquino government, was very nearly scrapped after long-time NDFP peace consultant Allan Jazmines was abducted by the AFP a few hours before the scheduled opening. # (Report by Raymund B. Villanueva. Featured photo by Jola Diones-Mamangun)