Reds want next talks in China

TARLAC CITY - Communist rebels want this year’s fourth round of peace talks to be held in Beijing, China.

However, rebel leader Fidel Agcaoili said the Norwegians have to work out the matter with the Chinese government as the Philippines cannot directly talk with Beijing due to protocol.

Tarlac Gov. Jose Yap, senior consultant of the government peace panel, said government negotiators also want the talks to be held in China.

Yap said communist rebels "might see the light" once the talks are held in Beijing since the Chinese Communist Party has veered away from hard-line communism, particularly the ideology espoused by leader Mao Zedong.

If rebel leaders would see how China is now being managed, "they may be finally convinced to mellow down from their hard-line views on how they should pursue their ideology," he added,

Government and rebel panels have been meeting in Oslo, as Norway has been facilitating the peace talks in a third party capacity.

Agcaoili said since China is closer to the country, President Arroyo can immediately fly to Beijing in case of a "major breakthrough" in the negotiations.

Mrs. Arroyo can also take part in the peace talks slated to be held from Aug. 23 to 30, he added.

Agcaoili, now based in the Philippines, has been designated by the National Democratic Front (NDF) to co-chair the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) tasked to oversee the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). — Benjie Villla