Government chief peace negotiator with NDF off to Norway

MANILA, Philippines - Government chief peace negotiator Alexander Padilla and the members of the peace panel will leave today for Oslo, Norway for the resumption of the peace talks with communist rebels on Feb. 15 to 21.

Padilla said the popularity of President Aquino’s administration allowed the “most opportune time” for peace negotiations with the communists and put an end to the decades old armed conflict.

“Peace talks is best resumed now as this is the start of a new and popular administration that has offered the hand of peace to our communist brothers and sisters,” Padilla said.

Padilla said the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panels have agreed to hold formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway under the auspices of the Royal Norwegian Government acting as third party facilitator of the peace negotiations, stalled since 2001.

The NDF is representing the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) in the peace talks with the government.

“As previously agreed upon and in the spirit of goodwill and as part of confidence building measures, a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities shall also be unilaterally declared by each side to be honored for the entire duration of the formal talks, or a total of seven full days,” Padilla said.

Padilla is confident that peace with the communists can be achieved within three years.

“Substantive agreements can be reached in 18 months’ time, and peace achievable in three years if both sides are focused and sincere in finally ending senseless violence,” he said.

On the other hand, the communist rebels are preparing to issue a ceasefire declaration in the next few days in preparation for the peace talks. – With Alexis Romero, Rhodina Villanueva and Cesar Ramirez