Philippine gov’t, insurgent group resume peace talks
The Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on April 2 resumed peace talks in Oslo, Norway, but failed to reach any deal with both sides warning of violence to come.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippine Gover꧟nment andthe National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) on April 2 resumedpeace talks in Oslo, Norway, but failed to reach any deal with both sides warningof violence to come.
This is the fourth round of negotiations between the PhilippineGovernment and the NDFP. In a statement, Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces,General Eduardo Ano said that the Government could not accept a unilateralceasefire because the New People's Army (NPA) group, an armed branch of theNDFP, used the ceasefire to extort money from businesses and people. Meanwhile, the militant group confirmed there is no unilateral ceasefireas the Government does not declare one. Head of the NDFP delegation Fidel Agcaoili said on March 31 thata bilateral ceasefire should be reached as soon as possible, with the NDFP opento a bilateral truce. Head of the Government’s delegation Silvestre Bello, however,said that negotiations would be difficult and a breakthrough was uncertain. TheGovernment wants a ceasefire to be the first item on the agenda to reduce orend hostility, said Bello. In early February, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte orderedthe termination of peace talks and launched an all-out attack against theinsurgents following the killing of some soldiers. The NPA was accused ofkilling the soldiers. Norway persuaded both sides to resume negotiations afterunofficial talks in the Netherland’s Utrecht city in the previous month. The fight between the Government and the NPA has claimed about30,000 lives since the 1960s. President Duterte regarded a peace agreement withthe NDFP as a top priority of the new government when he took office in June2016. Accordingly, leaders of the militant group were released and the twosides have called temporary ceasefires to pave the way for peace talks. Thefirst talks took place in Norway last August.-VNA
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Insurgents in the Philippines. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
