Chiz Welcomes Efforts To Resume GPH-CPP Talks

Chiz Welcomes Efforts To 

Resume GPH-CPP Talks

Senator Chiz Escudero welcomes the plan by the government to restart negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). He expressed hopes that the two parties make concrete progress to resume the stalled peace talks as soon as possible.

“We should welcome this positive development. Any effort that would bring armed conflicts to a permanent and just closure through peaceful means deserves the nation’s support,” Escudero said.

Escudero called on the government and the communist group to “show leadership, courage and responsibility to sustain effort toward achieving peace.”

He said it was also important that before returning to the negotiating table, each side puts forward concrete proposals rather than just complaints and accusations.

“I encourage both sides to persevere in their commitment to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, otherwise the peace talks will again lead to nothing” Escudero said.

 Talks with the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), were suspended a few years ago after the communist rebels demanded the release of their consultants from government custody.

The CPP-NPA reportedly prefers to talk peace with the next administration after questioning the Aquino government’s sincerity in the peace talks.

But just recently, government negotiators said they were coordinating with Norway to determine how the negotiations with the communist group can move forward. Norway facilitates the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front, the CPP-NPA’s negotiating arm. /MP