Joma open to homecoming, National Artist award

MANILA, Philippines - Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Maria Sison may come home to the Philippines if there is a “highly significant development” in the peace talks or the National Artist Award for Literature (Poetry and Essay) is conferred upon him.

In a statement, the National Democratic Front (NDF) said Sison would consider visiting the country should a “real milestone of great substance for the Filipino people be achieved in the peace negotiations,” like the amnesty and release of all political prisoners.

Sison has just also learned, the NDF added, that writers, including a group from the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, are nominating him for the National Artist Award. 

“He welcomed the nomination, saying this could also be a ‘compelling reason’ for him to come home. But he modestly said that at this moment, he could not presume to win the award,” the statement said.

In 1986, Sison won the Southeast Asia WRITE Award for poetry and the essay.

Interim accord lauded

Meanwhile, the Norwegian government has congratulated the negotiating panels of the Philippines and the NDF for proceeding to seek an end to the armed conflict following the signing of an agreement that could result in a permanent cessation of hostilities.

The two sides have agreed on an interim joint ceasefire (IJC) during the fourth round of talks in Noordwilk Aan Zee, the Netherlands last week. The parties will set the ground rules to render it implementable.

“We are very happy with the outcome of the talks,” Norwegian Ambassador to the Netherlands Martin Sorby said during a meeting with the Philippine and NDF delegations in his residence shortly after the agreement on the IJC was sealed on Wednesday, the second day of talks at the Radisson Blu Palace.

Sorby said the Norwegian government remains steadfast in its support for the peace efforts in the Philippines.

The Norwegian government has been facilitating the talks between the Philippines and the NDF since 2001.

On the invitation of Sorby, the two contingents were accompanied to his residence by Elisabeth Slattum, Norway’s special envoy to the peace process.