- GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The National Democratic Front (NDF)-Negros and its allied organizations yesterday expressed utmost support to the resumption of peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-NDF.
In a statement, NDF Negros spokesman Ka Bayani Obrero described the Oslo Joint Statement as a genuinely positive stride to address the roots of armed conflict.
While the peace process still has a long and arduous road ahead, mutual efforts will shed light on issues that adversely affect Negrosanons and the entire Filipino people, Obrero added.
The Philippine government and the CPP-NPA-NDF have agreed to a principled and peaceful resolution to the armed conflict and end the armed struggle.
“Resolving the roots of the armed conflict and ending the armed struggle shall pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP,” the Joint Statement, which was signed in Oslo, Norway, said.
Obrero said that NDF-Negros is urging the government to heed the long-demanded release of NDFP peace consultants and political prisoners.
Of the current 778 political prisoners in the country, 139 or 20 percent of them are in Negros Island, including NDFP peace consultants Frank Fernandez, Cleofe Lagtapon, and Ramon Patriarca.
Fernandez used to be the secretary of Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, with his wife, Lagtapon, and Patriarca as his deputies.
Such actions must be expedited in pursuing and building the common notion for a society based on a just and lasting peace, Obrero said.
He also stressed the need to junk the Anti-Terrorism Law, and as well as the removal of the terrorist designation of the CPP-NPA-NDFP.
Obrero also called on revolutionary mass organizations and various individuals, organizations and institutions, to support the call for the resumption of the GRP-NDFP peace talks, but also be vigilant of the renewed peace building efforts. | GB
