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NDFP sees rough sailing in peace talks under PNoy


The communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has accused the Aquino administration of lacking the political will to pursue the peace negotiations as it noted the government’s refusal to release 17 of its consultants detained for common crimes. “The regime of Benigno Aquino III is not interested in reaching agreements with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines that would address the roots of the armed conflict and pave the way for a just and lasting peace in the country," said NDFP spokesman Fidel Agcaoili in a statement on Sunday. Agcaoili said the government has virtually risked the lives of people from both sides who are involved in the talks and who are supposed to be protected under the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees. He said the release of the NDFP consultants is in accordance with the Oslo Joint Statements of January and February 2011 to release all or most of the 17 individuals protected under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees. Agcaoili also insisted that the resumption of talks, scheduled from Sept. 12 to 14 in Oslo, Norway, is being blocked by the government — an accusation that has already been denied by the government negotiating panel in a statement issued last Aug. 24. The government, in the statement, also explained why it is keeping the 17 consultants detained. “They (NDFP) conveniently hid the fact that in accordance with the Oslo Joint Statement of 21 February 2011, releases are subject to verification," the government panel said, adding that the NDFP, since then, continued to demand releases as a precondition to any resumption of talks. The government last July released the suspected assassin of former rebel priest Conrado Balweg and two NDFP consultants. — KBK, GMA News

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