Reds want comrades freed, or else…
The peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) may not push through in October unless the state first releases 13 of their jailed comrades, rebel panel leaders said Thursday.
Malacañang, meanwhile, complained that there were “too many voices” on the rebel panel and hoped they would speak with one voice as they negotiate peace with the government.
Stressing that their “consultants” were covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig), the NDF also blasted chief government negotiator Alexander Padilla for denying that the state had made a commitment to release the rebels so the talks could resume.
“Among positive steps needed to pave the way for peace talks in late October is the release of NDF consultants in accordance with Jasig. This is not a precondition,” NDF panel chairman Luis Jalandoni told the Inquirer Thursday.
Rebel panel spokesman Fidel Agcaoili said, “Alexander Padilla…speaks with a forked tongue. He agrees to have his panel hold the next round of formal talks with the NDF in Oslo in October. But at the same time, he says something else that makes impossible such formal talks.”
“Even now, he is practically blocking the possibility of formal talks,” Agcaoili said.
The government panel, meanwhile, remained mum, saying it was honoring an agreement made earlier with the NDF to avoid a media word war, after both camps had expressed optimism about the new round of negotiations.
But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Thursday said, “There seems to be many voices speaking in the Left. Jalandoni spoke already and now Mr. Agcaoili is speaking.”
Lacierda said the Palace would leave it to Padilla to deal with the matter.
“We’re hearing different voices from the Left so we just want one voice and Mr. Alex Padilla would be able to determine who among these people speaking in media should be the one that the government will consider.”
Later, Lacierda said Padilla had already spoken with someone—Jalandoni—“and he is the one we’re recognizing.”
Last Tuesday, Jalandoni and Padilla had an hourlong meeting with Norwegian facilitator Ture Lundh at the Norwegian ambassador’s residence in Makati City, where both camps resolved to restart the talks.
