(Eagle News) — The Philippine government has suspended backchannel talks with the Communist rebels.
In a statement, Hernani Braganza, the government’s negotiator for those talks, said the suspension was “pending the three-month review of all signed agreements related to the peace negotiations.”
Braganza said the decision was so the government could make use of the three-month period for 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.
He noted that the suspension “does not preclude communications between the two parties if deemed necessary.”
Willingness
According to Braganza, the government’s decision was relayed in a meeting with National Democratic Front leaders led by Fidel Agcaoili.
The meeting, held in Utrecht, Netherlands, was attended by Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison and by third-party facilitators from the Royal Norwegian Government led by special envoy for peace Idun Tvedt.
“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,” Braganza said.
In fact, he said the NDF negotiators were “favorably considering” the invitation–made by Dureza and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III—to join the public consultations.
He said the NDF peace negotiators have also “reiterated their commitment to all signed agreements,” including those involving the planned visit of Sison to the Philippines to meet President Rodrigo Duterte.
“In turn, we 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 also thanked the Norwegian government “for their continuing support to our peace conversations not only with the NDF but with other rebel groups interested in the attainment of just and lasting peace in the Philippines.”
“I think it’s very important to convey the message to you that we have the necessary patience in this and we are not going anywhere. We want to see this through. We want to see the results and if there is anything we can do to facilitate,” Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide told Dureza in a separate statement issued by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.