Exploratory talks with NDF fail

Exploratory talks which could pave the way for formal peace negotiations between the government and the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) have failed due to the NDF's insistence that it be removed from the terror list of the United States and the European Union.

Silvestre Afable, chief of the Presidential Management Staff, disclosed this following the exploratory talks on Wednesday held in the Dutch city of Utrecht, where the communist group rejected the Arroyo administration's bid for a ceasefire and a resumption of stalled peace talks.

The NDF negotiators demanded that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its founder, Jose Ma. Sison, and its armed wing, the New People's Army or NPA, be struck off the United States and European Union's list of international terrorist groups.

Afable said the administration of President Gloria Arroyo has no plans to change its position regarding the National Democratic Front remaining in the list until such time that a peace agreement has been forged.

Sources had cut off foreign funding to the National Democratic Front, the CPP's international representative, after it was declared a terrorist organisation due to Manila's active campaign before the U.S. and the EU.

Afable stressed, however, that the impasse is not the end of the road for the two parties with regard to peace negotiations. There are other ways that both parties may pursue.

He said Arroyo had sent Silvestre Bello and other government representatives to Utrecht to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front leaders living there in exile.

President Arroyo suspended the talks in June, 2001 after the New People's Army rebels assassinated two legislators.

Afable said the panel wanted to fast-track the negotiations that would lead to a comprehensive agreement backed by a ceasefire to end the decades-old fighting that has killed thousands.