Bayan laments ‘wasted chance for peace’ amid cancelled talks with Reds

A wasted opportunity.

This was how Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. described the terminated peace talks between the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the Philippine government (GRP), noting that President Rodrigo Duterte did not just waste both parties’ efforts but also that of the Royal Norwegian Government.

Reyes said the GRP and NDF as well as the Royal Norwegian Government were all set for the resumption of the peace talks in Norway on November 25 to 27, as negotiators have prepared common drafts of the agreements on socio-economic reforms while members of the government panel were already in the Netherlands for the preparatory meetings.

“Now it can be told. Peace talks were supposed to resume Nov. 25-27 in Norway. It was not supposed to be announced until agreements were reached. Prior to this, preparations were made for the crafting of agreements on socio-economic reforms, release of political prisoners and even a coordinated unilateral ceasefire,” Reyes said in a Facebook post.

“Members of the GRP Panel were already in The Netherlands for the preparatory meetings. The Royal Norwegian Government had arranged visas, plane tickets and hotel accommodations for the delegations. Common drafts for agrarian reform and national Industrialization were being prepared for signing.”

“Things were looking up. This was the farthest advance in the 25-year peace talks. Millions would have benefitted from the positive outcome,” Reyes also pointed out.

But on Thursday, just two days before the round of formal talks was supposed to resume, Mr. Duterte signed Proclamation No. 360, terminating the peace negotiations, citing series of attacks purportedly carried out by the New People’s Army (NPA) that have affected civilians. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), which is represented in the peace talks by the NDF.

“On the eve of the resumption of formal talks, Duterte comes in guns blazing, cancels the talks and terminates peace negotiations. He wasted the efforts and gains made by both sides, even that of his own peace panel,” Reyes noted.

“He wasted even the support of the Royal Norwegian Government who had to cancel at the last minute plane tickets and hotel reservations. Ano kaya ang totoong nararamdaman ng GRP Peace Panel sa pangyayaring ito (How does the government peace panel feel about this?).”

“Ang laki ng sinayang na oportunidad para sa makatarungang kapayapaan para lang bigyang daan ang mga banta at bira ni Duterte,” he also said.

(A huge opportunity for just peace went to waste just to give way for Duterte’s tirades and warnings.)

The GRP and NDF panels were in the process of drafting the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (Caser), which would serve as the highlight of the 25-year peace talks. The Caser aims to outline plans for national industrialization and agrarian reforms.    /kga