Peace talks: bishop supports removal of NPC from terrorist list

Manila (AsiaNews) – Representatives of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have issued a joint statement, at the end of a four day Peace Talks meeting (February 10-14) in Oslo, Norway, hosted and facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government. One important achievement is the de-listing of the New People's Army from the International Terrorist List. The delisting of the Communist Group (NDF armed faction) has been supported also by Bishops of Christian Churches.

The parties agreed on the importance of resuming the formal talks – which collapsed 2 years ago – in order to resolve the 35-year old  armed conflict, which killed or displaced thousand of people. The goal of the negotiations is to attain "a just and lasting peace by addressing the root causes of the armed conflict, pursuing social, economic, political and constitutional reforms, improving the living conditions of the Filipino people and expanding their freedom."  Thereby they agreed on the following points:

1. the framework and goal of the negotiations, reaffirming nine signed bilateral agreements;
2. the role of the third party facilitator (the Norwegian government);
3. both parties would call on the U.S. government, the European Union, Australia and Canada to remove the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)/NPA (National People's Army) and the NDF Chief Political Consultation Jose Ma. Sison, from the 'terrorist' list as a necessity "to advance and promote the peace negotiation";
4. the NDF proposal for an accelerated Work and the government's proposal of an enhanced process;
5. the formation of a Joint Monitoring Committee to monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian law;
6. to compensate 10 thousand victims of human rights violations under the past Marcos Regime;
7. to cooperate on social and economic reforms;
8. to release political prisoners as a step towards confidence-building measures;
9. to exchange information and complaints about matters that can affect the peace negotiations.

Emeritus Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, ocd, of the Prelature of Infanta and member of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, told AsiaNews that he and the ecumenical body advocated to have Sison and the NPA de-listed from the terrorist group. "There would be no basis for a peace negotiation if they are branded as terrorists."  Bishop Labayen sent a letter to the Churches in Europe, "asking them to help us in this advocacy."  As response, the Norwegian state ministry, through its ambassador in the Philippines,  has approached the Forum for a dialogue.  The Bishop reasoned: "We supported this issue, not only for the peace in the Philippines but because peace is a global question". (SE)

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