(Eagle News) — The negotiating panels of both the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) agreed on Saturday (March 11) to resume peace talks in April and June this year, as both parties also agreed to “forge an interim bilateral ceasefire agreement” so that the talks could proceed.
In a statement signed by the members of both parties’ negotiating panels in Utrecth, The Netherlands, the government and the NDF also reiterated their previous reaffirmations made on all bilateral agreements and statements made in the GRP-NDFP earlier negotiations. This included the agreements and statements on the Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
In agreeing to forge an interim bilateral ceasefire agreement, the two parties said that they would take into consideration the previous issues and concerns raised in relation to the previous six months of unilateral ceasefire or from August 2016 to February 2017.
“In the meantime, the Parties agree to reinstate their respective unilateral ceasefires which shall take effect before the scheduled fourth round of talks in April 2017 as soon as their respective forces shall have been informed,” the March 11 joint statement read.
The Philippine government negotiating panel also agreed to release the re-arrested NDF consultant, and to “ensure the safety and liberty of all the consultants” of the NDFP who had been ordered released last year for their participation in the peace talks.
In early February, NDF consultant Arnel Arbitrario and New People’s Amy liaison officer Roderick Mamuyac were arrested following the resumption of government offensives against the communist armed group. This was the NPA rebels killed police and soldiers even during a supposed ceasefire on February 1. In February, the NPA had also claimed they had made some 20 attacks against government forces during a supposed unilateral ceasefire.
In the joint statement, it was agreed that the Philippine government should also “undertake the necessary measures including the extension or reinstatement of the (NDFP consulants’) bail, as the case may be, and other legal remedies to enable their free and unhindered movement.”
It also said that the government would ensure the release of four detained NDFP consultants so that they could participate in the next round of talks in April.
“The fourth round of the formal peace talks shall be held in the first week of April 2017 while the fifth round shall be held in June 2017,” it said.
The joint statement was signed by Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, as chairperson of the GRP Panel; Fidel V. Agcaoili as chairperson of the NDFP Panel; Hernani A. Braganza as GRP panel member; and Benito E. Tiamzon as NDFP Panel member.
It was witnessed by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Prof. Jose Maria Sison as NDFP Chief Political Consultant, Atty. Efren C. Moncupa, Wilma Austria Tiamzon, Franciso J. Lara, Jr.,Vicente P. Ladlad, and lastly Elisabeth Slattum who is the Third Party Facilitator for the Royal Norwegian Government.
The Philippines expressed hope of securing a permanent ceasefire deal with communist rebels waging one of Asia’s longest insurgencies, as peace talks resumed in Italy. / AFP PHOTO / TIZIANA FABI
Below is the full statement of both the negotiating panels of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front regarding the agreement to resume peace talks as earlier scheduled in April (fourth round) and in June (fifth round):
UTRECHT JOINT STATEMENT
11 March 2017
We, representatives from the GRP Negotiating Panel and the NDFP Negotiating Panel held informal talks on 10-11 March 2017, in Utrecht, The Netherlands, with the Royal Norwegian Government acting as host and Third Party Facilitator, and agreed as follows:
1. The Parties shall continue the formal peace talks and reiterate their reaffirmation of all bilateral agreements and statements made in the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, including The Hague Joint Declaration, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
2. The Parties agree to forge an interim bilateral ceasefire agreement which shall take effect after the terms of reference and other considerations shall have been settled. In forging the interim bilateral ceasefire agreement, the Parties shall take due consideration of the issues and concerns raised by each Party in relation to the previous 6-month (August 2016 to February 2017) unilateral ceasefire of the other Party. In the meantime, the Parties agree to reinstate their respective unilateral ceasefires which shall take effect before the scheduled fourth round of talks in April 2017 as soon as their respective forces shall have been informed.
3. In accordance with the reactivated JASIG and in order to ensure the continuous participation in the peace negotiations of the 19 NDFP consultants and staff who were released in August 2016, the GRP shall release a rearrested consultant, ensure the safety and liberty of all the consultants, as well as undertake the necessary measures including the extension or reinstatement of their bail, as the case may be, and other legal remedies to enable their free and unhindered movement.
4. The GRP reiterates its commitment in the Rome Joint Statement of January 25, 2017 with respect to the release of NDFP consultants and political prisoners listed by the NDFP. The GRP shall ensure the participation of the four (4) detained consultants in the fourth round of the peace talks and thereafter. The GRP shall exert best efforts to release them before the start of the said round. The GRP shall also work for the release of nineteen (19) political prisoners based on humanitarian or other grounds on or before the said round of talks.
5. The Parties have scheduled the deposit and safekeeping of the reconstituted list and pictures of JASIG holders of NDFP documents of identification on March 14, 2017, pursuant to the agreement on Additional Implementing Rules Pertaining to the Documents of Identification dated June 26, 1996.
6. The fourth round of the formal peace talks shall be held in the first week of April 2017 while the fifth round shall be held in June 2017.
Signed in Utrecht, The Netherlands, 11 March 2017.
Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III
Chairperson of the GRP Panel
Fidel V. Agcaoili
Chairperson of the NDFP Panel
Hernani A. Braganza
Member, GRP Panel
Benito E. Tiamzon
Member, NDFP Panel
WITNESSES:
Sec. Jesus G. Dureza
GRP Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Prof. Jose Maria Sison
NDFP Chief Political Consultant
Atty. Efren C. Moncupa
Wilma Austria Tiamzon
Chairperson, NDFP RWG-EHDF
Franciso J. Lara, Jr.
Vicente P. Ladlad
NDFP Political Consultant
Elisabeth Slattum
Third Party Facilitator
For the Royal Norwegian Government
