Dureza defends move to reset talks with Reds

MANILA, Philippines — The “resetting” of the peace talks with the communist rebels was intended to protect what the government peace panel and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have gained during its back channel talks, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said.

In a statement on Friday, Dureza said the government is planning to invite resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks to engage with the public.

Dureza stressed the peace talks with the NDF, the umbrella organization representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was “reset.”

“The resetting of the planned peace talks is exactly for the purpose of protecting the gains achieved in the backchannel talks prior to formal resumption of peace negotiations,” Dureza said.

He said history shows many peace deals that suffered setbacks due to lack of public support. 

“And this is precisely why we have decided to engage the public and have consultations with various sectors to protect those gains,” Dureza said. 

He said the public’s support and participation has greatly helped the government’s peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) and the government wants to use that as a pattern.

“We have even planned on inviting resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks from both sides to engage the stakeholders together. We have already witnessed how this helped in the Bangsamoro peace efforts where leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front participated actively in the effort,” Dureza said.

He said the public must not be kept in the dark about the peace talks.

“Getting public support and goodwill even while still in the course of peace negotiations is truly indispensable. Suddenly springing finished peace agreements upon a public who have been kept in the dark during the negotiations can certainly undermine those efforts,” Dureza said.

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison slammed President Duterte for the cancellation of the peace talks scheduled on June 28.

Sison said it was “disappointing and frustrating” that Duterte decided to cancel the peace talks at the last minute as preparations are underway for the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the government and the NDF in Oslo, Norway.

Sison urged both panels to make public the stand down agreement signed on June 9.

“The press and the public have the right to know the content of the stand down agreement that was signed on June 9, 2018. This agreement has been unilaterally scrapped by the (government). And the press and public wish to know why. They also want to know the contents of agreements signed on June 10, 2018 pertinent to the June 28-30 resumption of formal peace talks and the interim peace agreement which have been unilaterally cancelled by the (government),” Sison said.

A report from ANC said the government and NDF were supposed to sign an interim peace agreement on June 28 which included the formation of a “bilateral preparatory committee” to lay the groundwork for Sison’s homecoming and a one-on-one meeting with President Duterte.

The CPP also issued a statement saying the cancellation of the peace talks is “totally unacceptable.”

The CPP said Malacañang made the announcement withdrawing from the scheduled talks after consulting with national security officials. 

Dureza, however, said “both sides of the negotiating table must be hand in hand in this effort, and we truly hope that the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines will join us in this crucial endeavor as any negative reaction can only further jeopardize the gains so far jointly achieved.”

“While we do respect whatever stand they may have on the matter, we do hope our peace partners in the CPP-NPA-NDF will view all these developments in this light,”

Dureza said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon aired his support for the decision to hold the next round of peace talks with the communist rebels in the Philippines.

Drilon said the decision of the President to hold the peace talks in the country is very significant because if the communist rebels agree to this, then it could go a long way in moving the process forward.

“By agreeing to hold the peace talks in the country, the communist group will be able to show that it has truly agreed to recognize the legitimacy of the government as the duly-constituted authority,” Drilon said.

He said the change in venue would provide the CPP-NPA the opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peace with the government after several decades of armed conflict.

The peace talks fell through in November last year following clashes between government troops and communist rebels.

Duterte then moved to have the CPP-NPA declared a terrorist group.

The President, however, had a change of heart, saying he would like to give peace another chance. – Marvin Sy