CPP-NDF ready for peace talks anew

BAGUIO CITY – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has shown readiness to return to the negotiating table with government.

In a statement issued recently, the CPP said it “welcomes the possible resumption” of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), after President Duterte reversed his termination of the negotiations last November.

The CPP said, “The revolutionary forces maintain the policy of openness to negotiations to seek solutions to the root of the armed conflict.” 

“The Filipino people await a comprehensive agreement on socio-economic reforms (CASER) that would address the aspirations of the people to seek an end to their oppressive and exploitative conditions,” it said.

The CPP added that its armed wing, the New People’s Army, also “supports and trusts the NDF negotiating panel as representative of all revolutionary forces in peace negotiations,” while claiming to “uphold the position of the NDF that there should be no preconditions in the resumption of peace talks as stipulated in The Hague Joint Declaration.”   

The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law must be reaffirmed and implemented, it said, and  “a presidential amnesty proclamation to release all political prisoners must immediately be issued in line with agreements during the first round of talks in 2016.”

As this developed, militant labor yesterday called on the government to remove the “terrorist” tag against the NPA and to immediately release political prisoners. 

The Kilusang Mayo Uno said the Duterte government should stop political harassment and set free the more than 480 political prisoners. – Mayen Jaymalin