PHL, NDF sign indefinite ceasefire pact

OSLO - The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front signed an indefinite ceasefire agreement on Friday as part of efforts to end a conflict that has lasted almost five decades and killed at least 40,000 people.

The agreement extends a truce in place since last weekend for the Oslo meeting, which began on Monday and is the first formal negotiating session over the conflict since 2011.

"There is a clear plan to accelerate the peace negotiations," Jose Maria Sison, the exiled founder of the Communist Party who lives in The Netherlands, told Reuters.

He said the ceasefire agreement included a timetable for talks about political, economic and constitutional reforms. The talks also mapped out a path towards an amnesty for political prisoners.

A summary of the joint statement was read by Ambassador Elizabeth Slattum, special envoy to the Philippine peace process. It said the parties have agreed on seven points that include:

reaffirming previously signed agreements;

reconstituting the list for the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG);

accelerating the peace process and remaining substantive agenda for the talks, including socio-economic reforms;

release of political detainees;

the Philippine government panel recommending to President Rodrigo Duterte the creation of an amnesty proclamation for political detainees who are consultants of the communist group;

the CPP-NPA-NDF's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire in response to that of the government's; and

meeting for a second time on October 8 to 12 in Oslo.

Ceasefire

The panels are looking to craft mechanisms for their respective unilateral ceasefire declarations within the next 60 days.

According to CPP-NPA-NDF chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, these committees "will try to work out the modalities and other details" of their respective ceasefires.

He added that they will look into the creation of ceasefire monitoring groups "to make certain the implementation of the current ceasefire," which is eyed to lead to the eventual declaration of a bilateral ceasefire.

The panels have yet to identify who will form their respective ceasefire monitoring committees.

For his part, Philippine chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III assured the Filipino people that the ceasefire will lower the level of violence in the country.

'Joy and commitment'

Jalandoni said the Filipino people's participation and support are "essential" to the success of the ceasefire and the peace talks.

He added that they see this "as a point of significant development towards addressing the roots of armed conflict."

He also pointed out that the matters eyed to be agreed upon will benefit the public as well.

"We believe that this should be a reason for joy and commitment because the panels have come to agree that there will be accelerated negotiations on social and economic reforms, like land reforms, which will benefit 75 percent of the population, as well as other fundamental reforms that will benefit the entire nation," he said.

Meanwhile, NDF lawyer Edre Olalia posted a reminder on his Facebook account that they have a long way to go before attaining lasting peace.

"Yet as we jubilate as we should, we have to be realistic, manage our expectations  and keep our hopes intact," he wrote.

"The fine print must not take over the writ large. After the din & drone of persevering but very cordial negotiations is the big work & long journey still ahead for a real & meaningful peace that is not only just but also lasting," Olalia pointed out.

Norway has had a role as facilitator for the peace process since 2001. Fitful peace talks have been going on since 1986.

President Rodrigo Duterte says he wants to end guerrilla wars with both communist and Muslim rebels that have been hampering economic development.

The 3,000-strong New People's Army, the armed wing of the communist party, operates mainly in the east and south of the Philippines. — Reuters with Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, Trisha Macas/RSJ/BAP, GMA News