No peace talks unless Arroyo yields to NDFP

No peace talks unless Arroyo yields to NDFP

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

The National Democratic Front Panel is not going to sit on the peace negotiating table with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines unless President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meets its demand of removing all its declared impediments to the peace talks, reported ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

In an exclusive interview during the NDFP’s signing of a joint statement with Sen. Maria Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal calling for the resumption of peace talks, NDFP Chair Luis Jalandoni said that it will not budge, should President Arroyo remain aloof to the NDFP's requirements.

"Of course if she does not and she continues in her all out war policy, that is doomed to failure, then the NDFP will have to decide to continue the revolutionary struggle and aim for the resumption of peace negotiations under the next administration," Jalandoni told ABS-CBN Europe.

"In 2010, or if the mass movement becomes very effective and there is a strong Oust Arroyo campaign, then it may come earlier! But in any case, the efforts of Sen. Madrigal in putting up experts to draw up draft agreements and the suggestion of the NDFP to form a group composed of technical experts from both sides, the Senate and the NDFP can help prepare the way for the resumption of the peace negotiations as soon as this may become possible in the future," Jalandoni said.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Madrigal held a meeting in secrecy, with NDFP officials at Nassaukerk or Nassau Church in Amsterdam on Friday regarding the peace process, which concluded with a joint statement calling for its resumption.

ABS-CBN is the only "other entity" that was allowed inside the venue and to witness the sigining of the joint statement by Madrigal, Jalandoni and Communist Party of the Philippines Founding Chair Jose Maria Sison.

Jalandoni said that the arrest of Sison on Aug. 28 and the raid on his house as well as the houses of the NDFP consultants, panelists and staffers were the biggest blow to the peace negotiations.

"All the twelve agreements which have been signed which we consider binding and effective and all the efforts of the peace advocates of the Norwegian government at saka so many peace advocates and organizations in the Philippines will all be thrown away," Jalandoni said.

"Pero nandyan ngayon yung initiative ni Sen. Madrigal na magkaron ng joint statement para ipakita yung initiative nung Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation to call for the resumption of the peace talks and to criticize the Arroyo regime for its violation of the peace agreements and for the political persecution of Joma Sison (But the initiative of Sen. Madrigal to have a joint statement is now there as a sign of the initiative of the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation to call for the resumption of the peace talks and to criticize the Arroyo regime for its violation of the peace agreements and for the political persecution of Joma Sison)," Jalandoni said.

He reiterated the NDFP’s requirements for them to sit again at the negotiating table.

"The all out war policy is an illusion which has failed so many years already, so she [Pres. Arroyo] has to make a decision. She has to have the political will. Then she has to declare to immediately stop the political persecution of Prof. Jose Maria Sison and the NDFP as well as stop the extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances as well as take the immediate steps to indemnification of the victims of human rights abuses under the Marcos regime," Jalandoni said.

Jalandoni hopes that there will be strong pressure on the GRP from the part of the peace advocates.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry informed him that Ambasador Hans Brattskar, who is replacing Tore Hattrem as facilitator for the peace process, and his delegation will come to the Netherlands to meet with NDFP on Oct. 23-24.

"The initiatives of Sen. Madrigal is very much welcome by the NDFP and we hope that many peace advocates in the Philippines and all those in the international community and the Norwegian government and others would support this initiative which will show that it is possible to go back to the peace negotiations in accordance with the agreements already signed to address the roots of the armed conflict," Jalandoni said.

According to Jalandoni, the NDFP remains open and reasonable, if only President Arroyo has the same attitude.

In fact, even if the peace talks had long been decided in 1995 to be held in a neutral foreign venue, Jalandoni is willing to go to the Philippines for consultations, if necessary.

"The NDFP, Ms. Connie Ledesma, myself and others have been willing to go back to the Philippines for consultations with some GRP officials, with the NDFP organizations, with the legal mass movement and with the peace advocates there. We have done that in 1998, in 2001, in 2004 and we will be willing to help in such consultations in the Philippines again," Jalandoni said.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=96033