Robert Atuhairwe,
Now the real work begins. Negotiating a deal that will bring the
conflict to an end. Never in my life have I felt the weight of
expectation weigh so heavy on my shoulders. Actually most of the
positions of the National Democratic Front on Agrarian Reform are
already well-known. We start from a baseline that 70% of ALL LAND in
the Philippines must be returned to the peasant farmers. The National
Democratic Front is willing to negotiate terms on which a smooth
transition of land-ownership will take place, in a manner that does
not triger systemmic dislocation and shock to the the agricultural
economy.
I am however very exhilarated- I have not been so excited and at peace
within myself for a long time, but now I can see some genuine hope
that we can deliver the dreams of those comrades of mine who
sacrificed their lives so that the Filipino people can be free from
feudal bondage and capitalist exploitation. I have been a communist
from 14 years of age, and have devoted all my life time to the
communist cause. If the Philippines Revolution is the last the last
contribution I make to the World Revolution, I will die a very happy
and contented man.
Bobby
Philippine government, communist rebels sign ceasefire deal
Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De
Castro 5/5By Alister Doyle | OSLO
OSLO The Philippines government and Maoist-led rebels agreed
indefinite ceasefires on Friday as part of an accord to accelerate
efforts to end a conflict that has lasted almost five decades and
killed at least 40,000 people.
The government expressed hopes that a peace agreement could be reached
within a year after the Oslo talks, the first formal meeting for five
years. The guerrillas, who reiterated demands for "revolutionary
change", stopped short of setting a deadline.
Both sides, at a signing ceremony in a hotel on the outskirts of Oslo,
hailed the ceasefire deal and measures to step up negotiations as a
breakthrough after 30 years of fitful peace talks.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende, hosting the ceremony, urged
both sides to mirror an agreement between Colombia's government and
Marxist FARC rebels to end Latin America's longest conflict, dating
back more than 50 years.
"I hope this has been an inspiration," he said after the five-day
meeting in Oslo. Norway has been a long-standing facilitator for peace
deals in Colombia and the Philippines.
Under the Philippines accord, the rebels indefinitely extended a
week-long ceasefire that had been due to expire after the Oslo talks.
The government reaffirmed an open-ended ceasefire since Aug. 21 that
could have been called off if the guerrillas failed to match it.
"There is a clear plan to accelerate the peace negotiations," Jose
Maria Sison, the exiled founder of the Communist Party who lives in
the Netherlands, told Reuters.
He called the Philippines "semi-colonial" and "semi-feudal". The
rebels want sweeping reforms to redistribute land to poor farmers and
to nationalize industries.
The government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political
wing of the Communist Party, agreed to meet again in Oslo from Oct. 8.
"There is still a lot of work to be done ahead. Let us all stay the
course together, no matter what," said Jesus Dureza, Philippines
presidential peace adviser.
Both sides urged President Rodrigo Duterte, who helped unblock the
negotiations by releasing 16 detainees before the talks, to proclaim
an amnesty for all insurgents.
Rebels said that such an amnesty, which would also need approval by
Congress, could cover about 530 jailed guerrillas.
Duterte says he wants to end guerrilla wars with both communist and
Muslim militants that have been hampering economic development. The
3,000-strong New People's Army, the armed wing of the communist party,
operates mainly in the east and south of the Philippines.
(Editing by Louise Ireland)
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
Source
Now the real work begins. Negotiating a deal that will bring the
conflict to an end. Never in my life have I felt the weight of
expectation weigh so heavy on my shoulders. Actually most of the
positions of the National Democratic Front on Agrarian Reform are
already well-known. We start from a baseline that 70% of ALL LAND in
the Philippines must be returned to the peasant farmers. The National
Democratic Front is willing to negotiate terms on which a smooth
transition of land-ownership will take place, in a manner that does
not triger systemmic dislocation and shock to the the agricultural
economy.
I am however very exhilarated- I have not been so excited and at peace
within myself for a long time, but now I can see some genuine hope
that we can deliver the dreams of those comrades of mine who
sacrificed their lives so that the Filipino people can be free from
feudal bondage and capitalist exploitation. I have been a communist
from 14 years of age, and have devoted all my life time to the
communist cause. If the Philippines Revolution is the last the last
contribution I make to the World Revolution, I will die a very happy
and contented man.
Bobby
Philippine government, communist rebels sign ceasefire deal
Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Erik De
Castro 5/5By Alister Doyle | OSLO
OSLO The Philippines government and Maoist-led rebels agreed
indefinite ceasefires on Friday as part of an accord to accelerate
efforts to end a conflict that has lasted almost five decades and
killed at least 40,000 people.
The government expressed hopes that a peace agreement could be reached
within a year after the Oslo talks, the first formal meeting for five
years. The guerrillas, who reiterated demands for "revolutionary
change", stopped short of setting a deadline.
Both sides, at a signing ceremony in a hotel on the outskirts of Oslo,
hailed the ceasefire deal and measures to step up negotiations as a
breakthrough after 30 years of fitful peace talks.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende, hosting the ceremony, urged
both sides to mirror an agreement between Colombia's government and
Marxist FARC rebels to end Latin America's longest conflict, dating
back more than 50 years.
"I hope this has been an inspiration," he said after the five-day
meeting in Oslo. Norway has been a long-standing facilitator for peace
deals in Colombia and the Philippines.
Under the Philippines accord, the rebels indefinitely extended a
week-long ceasefire that had been due to expire after the Oslo talks.
The government reaffirmed an open-ended ceasefire since Aug. 21 that
could have been called off if the guerrillas failed to match it.
"There is a clear plan to accelerate the peace negotiations," Jose
Maria Sison, the exiled founder of the Communist Party who lives in
the Netherlands, told Reuters.
He called the Philippines "semi-colonial" and "semi-feudal". The
rebels want sweeping reforms to redistribute land to poor farmers and
to nationalize industries.
The government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political
wing of the Communist Party, agreed to meet again in Oslo from Oct. 8.
"There is still a lot of work to be done ahead. Let us all stay the
course together, no matter what," said Jesus Dureza, Philippines
presidential peace adviser.
Both sides urged President Rodrigo Duterte, who helped unblock the
negotiations by releasing 16 detainees before the talks, to proclaim
an amnesty for all insurgents.
Rebels said that such an amnesty, which would also need approval by
Congress, could cover about 530 jailed guerrillas.
Duterte says he wants to end guerrilla wars with both communist and
Muslim militants that have been hampering economic development. The
3,000-strong New People's Army, the armed wing of the communist party,
operates mainly in the east and south of the Philippines.
(Editing by Louise Ireland)
--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
Source