NDF leaders open to joint ceasefire

Communist rebel leaders said yesterday they were open to a joint nationwide ceasefire with the government if a truce would be raised during formal peace talks later this month.

"That’s a possibility and we could discuss it during the resumption of talks," said National Democratic Front (NDF) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni, who led a four-member peace panel that arrived in Manila on Sunday from the Netherlands.

"The matter is not that simple and the NDF national executive committee should be consulted on this," Jalandoni said.

Jalandoni and his wife Connie Ledesma, along with Antonio Zumel and wife Ruth de Leon, arrived in Manila as the advance NDF party for the peace negotiations.

Leaders of the NDF, political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), have agreed to resume peace negotiations with the Arroyo administration beginning on April 27 in a Scandinavian country, possibly Norway.

The formal talks may yet bring an end to the over 30-year political and armed Marxist struggle in the country, making it the longest-running communist revolt in Asia.

Jalandoni is set to meet with his government counterpart, former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III, to finalize last-minute details of a so-called "solidarity meeting" and secure an immunity guarantee and safe conduct passes to rebel negotiators and consultants.

Both the Armed Forces and the New People’s Army (NPA), the military wing of the communist insurgency movement, had unilaterally declared a ceasefire or suspension of military operations (SOMO) in Southern Tagalog region to pave the way for the release of Army Maj. Noel Buan.

After being held captive by the NPA for nearly 22 months, Buan was finally freed by the rebels last Thursday in Mansalay town, Oriental Mindoro.

The ceasefire is set to end this week. The Cabinet Cluster E that handles national security matters is expected to tackle the issue of an extended SOMO during a meeting today at Malacañang.

Jalandoni said while a limited ceasefire in the past yielded positive results, a longer truce should be carefully studied.

He recalled that a 60-day ceasefire was declared during the term of former President Corazon Aquino. "But since there were no specific monitoring mechanisms at that time, what happened then was that there were charges and counter-charges of ceasefire violations," he said.

Jalandoni said he would also bring up the issue on the reinstatement of the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees for the NDF negotiators and their staff.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said the military had expressed support for a continued truce, but would continue to protect civilians from terrorist attacks.

"We will be supporting policies that will be arrived at including the extension of the SOMO, but at all times, we will perform our duty of securing communities," Adan said.

Bello said Jalandoni’s group has not sought an audience with President Arroyo, adding they were willing to arrange one if requested.

Bello also said he and the NDF panel would be reviewing a list of rebel negotiators and their consultants who would be given safe conduct passes.

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison, also based in the Netherlands, told a Manila radio station that he was likewise planning to visit Manila "at the right time."

"What I am saying is that there is a bright future for the peace negotiations," Sison stressed.

‘A good sign’

For his part, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Eduardo Ermita expressed confidence that the NDF leaders would be convinced of the government’s sincerity in forging a peace pact with the participation of various sectors in the solidarity meeting set on April 18 at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Pasay City.

"Hopefully, this will be a good sign leading to the start again of the peace talks this April 27," Ermita added.

Mrs. Arroyo reiterated that her administration is committed to the restoration of permanent peace in the country.

"As I have said time and again, this people power administration is committed to peace... peace in our time. Hence, we declared the limited ceasefire and suspension of military operations so that the release (of Buan) will be facilitated," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"With the positive response of the NPA, and with the participation of the NDF, we can all move on to the next phase of the peace process. I am optimistic that this confidence-building measure will help pave the way for a successful negotiation," the President added.

In another development, re-electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan batted for the creation of a ceasefire committee between the government and the NDF to draw up guidelines for compliance by both sides.

"Although the two parties have unilaterally declared a general cessation of hostilities, there is no specific guideline (for) those in the field," Honasan said in a statement.

He pointed out that one of the reasons why the NDF leaders refused to hold the peace talks in the Philippines was the negative experience they had as a result of the violations of the 1986 and 1987 ceasefire agreements.

He also said that should the planned withdrawal of troops from camps of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front captured last year by the military push through, the government and Muslim rebel leaders should come up with step-by-step procedures to ensure peace and order in the affected areas.

On the other hand, the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno expressed optimism that lasting peace will be achieved with the resumption of the peace negotiations between the government and the NDF.

A KMU statement said the people have reason to rejoice over the forthcoming peace talks.

KMU chairman Crispin Beltran said the people fully support the peace negotiations.

"We recognize the talks as an important venue wherein the people’s calls for immediate socio-economic reforms and demands for a stop to repression and militarization will be addressed," Beltran said.– With Marichu Villanueva, Sandy Araneta