Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison said it is premature to talk about laying down of arms in the second round of the peace negotiations. (Zea Io Ming C. Capistrano/davaotoday.com)
OSLO, Norway – Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison said it is premature to talk about laying down of arms in the second round of the peace negotiations.
“Premature pag-usapan yan, kelangan muna pag-usapan anong nilalaman ng peace process na pakinabang ng sambayanang Pilipino, lalo na yung nasa CASER dapat makita natin kung anong makukuha ng sambayanang Pilipino (It’s premature to talk about it. We need to talk about the Filipino people can get from the peace process, especially the contents of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms. We need to see what benefit the Filipino people will get from it),” he said in a press conference on Wednesday, October 5 (past 10:00 in the evening Oslo time).
“Kapag patuloy yung pagsasamantala at pang-aapi eh bakit titiklop yung revolutionary government? (If oppression and exploitation continues, why will the revolutionary government surrender?),” he said.
He said the negotiations is “less adversarial” if both parties will use the interest of the Filipino people as its point of reference.
The second round of talks to be held at the Holmenfjord Hotell here will discuss the substantive agenda on social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms, ceasefire and the release of political prisoners.
Meanwhile, Sison, who serves as chief political consultant of the NDF negotiating panel said the release of political prisoners is an important part of the peace process.
“There’s no greater value than doing justice to those who suffered injustice. They were detained facing trumped-up common crimes,” he told reporters upon his arrival in Oslo.
“Pinakamabuting palayain sila sa pinakamadaling paraan like amnesty (It is best to free them in the easiest way like amnesty),” he said.
He said the release of the prisoners is “a matter of justice and a matter of compliance of the (Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law).”
Sison also said the Communist movement agreed to talk with the Duterte goverment because of the promise of President Rodrigo Duterte that there will be “fundamental changes”.
The government and the NDF will hold the second round of talks at the Holmenfjord Hotell here from October 6-10. (davaotoday.com)
