PH suspends all backchannel talks with communist rebels
In a statement, Hernani Braganza said the government team flew to Utrecht to formally communicate to the National Democratic Front (NDF) the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to re-schedule the proposed resumption of government peace negotiations with the communist rebels.
“In a meeting with the NDF leaders headed by Chief Negotiator Fidel Agcaoili and attended by Chief Political Consultant Jose Ma. Sison , the government team also conveyed the Philippine government’s decision to suspend all backchannel talks with the NDF pending the three-month review of all signed agreements related to the peace negotiations,” Braganza said.
“The suspension, however, does not preclude communications between the two parties if deemed necessary,” he added.
Braganza said the meeting was witnessed by third-party facilitators from the Royal Norwegian Government led by Special Envoy for Peace Idun Tvedt.
During the meeting, Braganza said the NDF representatives “expressed willingness to keep an open mind on the President’s decision and wait for the outcome of the government’s review before proceeding with any peace conversation with government.”
“They reiterated their commitment to all signed agreements, including those involving the planned visit of Prof. Jose Ma. Sison in the Philippines to Manila for a meeting with the President,” he added.
In turn, Braganza said the team “extended the government panel’s appreciation to the NDF’s open-mindedness in coming to terms with President Duterte’s decision.”
He said the government team also relayed to the NDF the decision of Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza “to utilize the three-month review period to consult instrumentalities of government and the general public about the negotiations and the substantive issues involved.”
“The NDF leaders, for their part, expressed intention to conduct their own separate actions and activities that aim to protect the gains already achieved as a result of backchannel, informal and formal talks between the two panels,” Braganza said.
He added that the NDF representatives were favorably considering the invitation extended by Dureza and chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello 3rd for them to join the public consultations.
“It is our fervent hope that the consultations will help galvanize public support to peace efforts aimed at ending the armed conflict through the achievement of economic, social and political reforms,” Braganza said.
On June 14, Dureza announced the postponement of the resumption of peace talks with the communist rebels to engage the public more in the peace process.
Duterte said that he needed “a little more time” but promised to pursue his commitment to talk with the “enemies of the state.”
Sison, however, is against the holding of formal talks in the Philippines, warning this will spell doom for the negotiations aimed at ending the 50-year communist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.
The resumption of peace talks with the communists was supposed to be held later this June.
The peace talks had been scuttled last November because of continued attacks by the rebels on government troops and civilians.
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