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‘Difficult but successful’ round of talks ends in Rome

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ROME, Italy—The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) concluded their “difficult but successful” round of formal peace talks a week after it opened, five days of which were spent in “exacting” negotiations.

The parties said they achieved advances on six major issues listed on their January 18 common agenda:

  • Breakthrough in the discussion of socio-economic reforms and achieving understanding on its first four items, including agrarian reform and rural development;
    • Signing of the ground rules on the work of the Reciprocal Working Committees (RWC) on Socio-Economic Reforms (SER);
    • Exchange of drafts and initial discussions on political and constitutional reforms;
    • Signing of supplemental guidelines on the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) for the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law;
    • Submission by the GRP of its proposal for a bilateral ceasefire and the parties’ agreement to discuss it on February in The Netherlands; and
    • Agreement to a fourth round of formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway in the first week of April.

The parties likewise talked about the release of the 392 NDFP-listed political prisoners with the GRP again committing to facilitate the release of three remaining NDFP consultants Eduardo Sarmiento, Emeterio Antalan and Leopoldo Caloza through presidential clemency or other legal means.

The GRP and the NDFP also discussed the possible implementation of socio-economic projects in relation to the Joint Agreement in Support of Socioeconomic Projects of Private Development Organizations and Institutes of March 16, 1998.

“The parties have been constructive and solution-oriented. And it is very clear to us as Third Party Facilitators that both sides are genuinely committed to work towards achieving peace,” Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process Elisabeth Slattum said.

“Well, it has been difficult but successful. That is the only way I can describe this round,” NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili said.

Agcaoili clarified though that he expected the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the supplemental guidelines on the JMC, the tentative agreement on the PCR, the movement on the discussion on SER as well as on its ground rules.

“Free distribution of land”

As expected, negotiations on socio-economic reforms took center stage in the Rome round of talks.

“The RWCs-SER agreed in principle to the free distribution of land to farmers and farm workers as part of the governing frame of CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms),” the parties’ Joint Statement on the Successful Third Round of Formal Talks Between the GRP and NDFP in Rome, Italy said.

Earlier, the RWCs-SER reaffirmed their earlier agreement on the Preamble and the Declaration of Principles (Part I) as the framework of the CASER.

They also identified points of agreement on Bases, Scope and Applicability (Part II) and reaffirmed their approval of Part II entitled Desired Outcomes.

The committees also reached a common understanding on the general features of the agrarian problems in the Philippines, incorporated in the Part IV of the discussions which included land distribution issues.

“While our discussions in the past days have been exacting, we were not deterred from exploring new ways and other platforms to advance the talks,” GRP panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said in describing the success of the round.

The CASER ground rules “display our seriousness to tackle the agreement on socio-economic reforms,” Bello said.

Joma “recovering well”

The eight page Joint Statement however is silent on the announced plan of the GRP to request the United States government to delist NDFP Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison from its terror list.

Sison was absent in a formal peace talks closing ceremony for the first time in 25 years,

“We would like to inform you that the chief political consultant of the NDFP, Prof. Jose Maria Sison, was hospitalized last night,” Slattum said.

“But we can assure you that he is recovering well.  And I think I speak for everybody when I say we hope that he would be back on his feet in the next few days,” she added to loud applause in the hall.

Bello asked the participants and witnesses of the closing ceremony to offer a minute of prayer for the fast recovery of Sison.

Bello and GRP panel member Angela Trinidad had to leave the ceremony early to fly to Kuwait to try to save the life of a Filipino set to be executed in the said country. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Joma terror delisting, free land distribution among agreements in third round of talks

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ROME, Italy—The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and government negotiators are set to end their third round of formal talks today on a successful note with advances on the substantive agenda and new goodwill measures included in the prospective Rome Joint Statement.

NDFP chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and his Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) counterpart Silvestre Bello III said their joint statement will include the signing of the supplemental guidelines on the Joint Monitoring Committee as well as agreements on the ground rules for future negotiations on socio-economic and political and constitutional reforms.

They also agreed to hold a special meeting in The Netherlands in February 22 or 24 to discuss the GRP proposal for a bilateral ceasefire.

“This round is turning out to be a success, despite the apparent sabotage with the killing of the activists in Negros Occidental and Surigao del Norte and the attack on the NPA (New People’s Army) encampment in North Cotabato,” Agcaoili said.

Joma Sison delisting

Bello for his part revealed that the joint statement shall include a request to the United States of America (USA) that NDFP chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison be delisted from its terror list.

“We have a basis (for such request), considering he is in the process, the peace talks, which negates the character of a terrorist,” Bello said.

Bello said it is important for Sison to be able to travel outside of Europe in response to GRP President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement he is willing to meet his former professor in any neutral Asian country.

NDFP panel member Benito Tiamzon and consultant Wilma Austria welcomed the move saying it would help in the negotiations.

“We have long been saying that the revolutionary movement, the Communist Party of the Philippines, the NPA, most especially Prof. Sison are not terrorists,” Tiamzon said.

“It is also important that President Duterte is saying he is independent of the US and this is one concrete step showing he really is independent,” Tiamzon added.

Sison has yet to issue a statement on the development.

Painstaking SER negotiations

NDFP socio-economic reforms Reciprocal Working Committee (RWC) spokesperson and agrarian and rural development focal person Randall Echanis said their bilateral meetings with their GRP counterparts have taken a few steps forward.

“For the first time, the GRP has submitted a comprehensive draft and we have agreed that both our drafts would be discussed with a matrix comparing both versions,” Echanis said.

Echanis also said that the Preamble and Declaration of Principles mostly based on the NDFP draft has already been agreed upon by the Reciprocal Workings Committees (RWC).

“We have identified commonalities on the Bases, Scope and Applicability provisions of our respective drafts and these are three important parts that our bilateral negotiations have disposed with,” Echanis said.

Echanis also revealed that the GRP has agreed in principle that there should be free land distribution to farmers, subject to consultations with other government agencies.

“We are for free land distribution while the GRP is for land distribution at least cost to the farmers.  We met halfway by saying the compensation should not come from the farmers but from the government,” he said.

“They said the NDFP draft’s use of the word of ‘confiscation’ is unconstitutional.  We clarified that land grabbed with use of violence and intimidation should be confiscated without compensation but we have no question with just compensation for landlords whose land was accumulated through just means,” Echanis clarified.

Echanis said the NDFP had been meeting GRP halfway in their negotiations as long as the essence and principle of agrarian reform is not compromised.

The closing ceremony of the third round is expected to be held at three o’clock local time (nine o’clock in the evening, Philippine time).

The fourth round of NDFP-GRP formal peace talks shall be held in April in Oslo, Norway. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Karapatan: Attacks to sabotage talks?

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ROME, Italy—The death of two activists and a New People’s Army (NPA) fighter in the Philippines since the ongoing round of formal talks began last January 19 may be the work of peace saboteurs, a human rights group said.

“Are these attacks efforts to sabotage the peace talks?” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay asked in reaction to the killing of peasant leader Alexander Ceballos in Murcia, Negros Occidental and Veronico Lapsay Delamente in Claver, Surigao del Norte last January 20 as well as the military operation that killed an NPA fighter in Makilala, North Cotabato last January 21.

“The killing of Ceballos and Delamente are cases of human rights violations while the military operation in Makilala is a violation of the reciprocal ceasefire agreements,” Palabay said.

Ceballos, a leader of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, was gunned down in his home in Barangay Pandan Silos, Murcia, Negros Occidental by a masked goon reportedly in the employ of former Don Salvador Benedicto town mayor Nehemias dela Cruz.

Delamente, a Mamanwa leader and member of Kahugpungan sa Lumadnong mga Organisasyon (Kasalo), was shot by unknown assailants in Punta Naga, Barangay Cagdianao and later died at a Surigao City hospital. He previously reported receiving death threats because of his anti-mining activities, Kasalo said.

Delamente was also the Katribu Party provincial coordinator since 2010.

In Makilala, 39th Infantry Battallion soldiers of the Philippine Army pursued an NPA unit in Barangay Biangan that resulted in an hour long gunfight and the death of a Red fighter, 33-year old Rojet Ranara.

Eight soldiers were also killed, NPA-Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command Spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez said.

“The war dogs of the 39th IB and the entire AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) cannot wash their hands clean of this flagrant violation of their own ceasefire. Sitio Lokatong in Barangay Biangan is a remote area that their presence can only mean an offensive operation against the NPA,” Sanchez said.

“They fool no one by claiming that their combat operation was merely in response to reports by local authorities of the presence of lawless groups, for the entire day, they actively maneuvered to engage the evading unit of the NPA,” he added.

Sanchez said the Rodrigo Duterte government should know it is the insincerity of the AFP that is the biggest impediment to the quest for just and lasting peace.

Palabay said the killings and the military operations are attacks on the ongoing peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“Is the AFP laying the ground for further human rights violations akin to those committed under Oplan Bayanihan? Its Oplan Kapayapaan in its first three weeks is nothing but the same counter-insurgency program that unleashes war against the people and fomenting un-peace,” Palabay said.

Asked for comment, GRP Negotiating Panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III said they still have to receive an official notice from the NDFP.

“We cannot turn a deaf ear to these reports, but such incidents should not negatively affect the peace process,” Bello said.

“In fact, such incidents should compel both parties to accelerate the peace talks to its logical conclusion for a just and lasting peace,” he added. # (Raymund B. Villanueva/Featured image by Breakaway Media)

GRP forces commit human rights violations with ceasefire in effect–Karapatan

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ROME, Italy—Human rights violations victimized 28,890 civilians throughout the country while the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP)’s unilateral ceasefire declaration is in effect, Karapatan in a 50-page report said.

The group, an independent observer to the ongoing peace talks, submitted its collated reports of 17 types of human rights violations committed by GRP forces and agents from August 21 to December 31, 2016.

The GRP received the report at a plenary discussion of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Friday morning.

The cases  included the killing of 24 peasants and indigenous peoples; the enforced disappearance of two lumad activists; at least 14,659 incidents of threats, harassment and intimidation; and 4,170 incidents of indiscriminate firing and bombings by troops who have occupied communities in the countryside despite the ongoing ceasefire.

“We urge the GRP peace panel to look into the violations and heed the calls of affected communities, the victims and their families to stop these violations, to pull out the AFP and paramilitary forces in civilian communities and to respect and implement the CARHRIHL,” Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said.

“Just and lasting peace can only be achieved if there are sincere efforts to abide by previously-signed agreements and human rights obligations and people’s rights and welfare are upheld and protected at all times,” Palabay said.

GRP Response

GRP will look into the complaints, its negotiating panel chairperson Silvestre Bello III told reporters.

“We accepted the report by Karapatan as a signatory of the CARHRIHL and we will study it closely,” Bello said.

Bello said the GRP in turn has submitted a list of human rights violations committed by NDFP forces, but declined to give details.

“I also have yet to look at the report we gave the NDFP,” Bello said.

NDFP Panel senior adviser Luis Jalandoni said they “would have to see if GRP’s report were human rights violations at all.” (Raymund B. Villanueva)

Ulat sa pagbubukas ng ikatlong round ng GRP-NDFP peace talks

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Nagbukas ang ikatlong round ng pormal na usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines at Government of the Republic of the Philippines ngayong umaga dito sa Roma at kahapon ng alas-singko naman sa Pilipinas.

Sa kabila ng maraming problemang sumulpot nitong mga nakaraang buwan, nagpahiwatig ng pag-asa ang kapwa panig na mapagkakasunduan ang mga mahahalagang usapin tulad ng Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms, political and economic reforms. Read more

Joma Sison: GRP and NDFP can negotiate in a non-adversarial way

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NDFP Chief Political Consultant Jose Maria Sison said both parties in the peace talks can negotiate in a non-adversarial way and overcome any obstabcle by addressing the roots of the armed conflict.

Sison added that the talks may proceed in a smooth manner as long it seeks to satisfy the demands of the people for basic social, economic and political reforms in order to lay the foundation of a just and lasting peace and build a Philippines that is truly independent, democratic, just, prosperous and progressive.

Watch and listen to Prof. Sison’s speech at the opening ceremony of the third round of GRP and NDFP peace talks in Rome, Italy. Read more

Peace process needs patient support and involvement of the Filipino people–Slattum

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Royal Norwegian Government Special Envoy to the Philippine Peace Process Elisabeth Slattum encouraged the Filipino people’s support and involvement to the peace process.

In her remarks at the opening ceremony of the third round of talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Rome, Italy yesterday, the Third Party Facilitator also asked both parties to have courage to both come out as winners in the negotiations.

Watch and listen to Slattum’s speech. Read more

Focus on the substantive issues, activists tell Duterte

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by Abril Layad B. Ayroso

MANILA, Philippines–President Rodrigo Duterte should realize that peace talks between his government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are more than just about ceasefires, activists at a rally said.  last January 18, eve.

On the eve of the opening of the third round of peace talks in Rome, Italy, activists marched to Mendiola to demand the release of political prisoners whom Duterte described as his “trump cards.”

“Instead of confronting more substantive issues in the peace process such as social and economic reforms, the government dwelled on the issue of political prisoners and kept them hostage to secure a bilateral ceasefire agreement,” College Editors Guild of the Philippines national secretary-general Ronilo Mesa said.

“Duterte’s negotiating panel should be reminded that prolonging the release of the political detainees is a wilful violation of previously-signed agreements,” Mesa added, citing the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes added that several high-ranking military officials and advisors had reportedly travelled to Rome for the peace talks to press for a bilateral ceasefire as soon as possible.

“There is a mindset among the government that the peace talks are only good for achieving a ceasefire, even though the roots of the armed conflict have not yet been addressed,” Reyes said.

“Duterte should not just focus on the cessation of hostilities. He must be open to the legitimate concerns of the people,” League of Filipino Students national spokesperson JP Rosos added.

Socio-economic reforms

Former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño said that the government must focus on socio-economic reforms, instead of just dwelling on a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

“Land reform, employment, economy, environment, culture, even free internet – these are all part of the socio-economic reforms to be discussed during the second round,” Casino said.

Casino added that addressing these issues would eventually lead to a cessation of hostilities as these are some of the causes of armed conflict.

“These reforms to be discussed in the peace talks are closer to the heart and stomach of the Filipino people. How could we possibly ignore these reforms to rush the ceasefire?” Casino said.

Violence and harassment

The rallyists also condemned the continuing militarization in rural areas, despite the interim unilateral ceasefires held by both the government and the NDFP.

“During the self-imposed ceasefire, troops under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remain in communities and are reported to be continuously intimidating, harassing and threatening residents,” Karapatan deputy secretary-general Roneo Clamor said.

The progressives also spoke against the Duterte administration’s new counterinsurgency program, Oplan Kapayapaan, which they say allows state forces to continue their military operations against activists.

“The Duterte government must end Oplan Kapayapaan to recognize the legitimate struggle of the Filipino people and to uphold its unilateral ceasefire declaration,” Mesa said.

Optimism

Despite this, the progressives continue to hope something positive comes out of the talks.

“We remain optimistic. Yet we will not stop demanding to the Duterte to release all political prisoners, not only to urge him to fulfill his promise, but to remind him that it is right and just, and is a significant move towards achieving a just and lasting peace,” Hustisya deputy secretary-general Gloria Almonte said in a statement.

“This third round of the peace talks is important, not only because it takes on socio-economic reforms, but also because it is when we find out whether the Duterte government is serious about keeping its promises and if our cooperation with them is to continue,” Reyes added.

“The government’s continued violations of human rights can and will affect even the unilateral ceasefires – but that is no reason to stop the peace talks, as they are about more than just the end of hostilities. We must not be swayed by Duterte’s threats,” Reyes said. #

 

People’s orgs press for release of political prisoners via general amnesty

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Members of peasant organizations, rights advocates and Church-based organizations today held a rally at Mendiola to call on the Duterte government to immediately release the 392 political prisoners through general amnesty. The rally came a day before the resumption of the 3rd round of formal talks between the GPH and NDFP. Read more

Third round opens amidst complaints of CARHRIHL and JASIG violations

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ROME, Italy—Despite major problems before its convening, the third round of formal peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) opened as scheduled at ten thirty this morning local time (5:30 pm Philippine time).

Both parties expressed optimism that the six-day negotiations would achieve important agreements on socio-economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and human rights. Read more