Solon calls on GPH, NDF return to talks

DAVAO CITY, Aug 18 (PIA) Former government-peace-negotiator Representative Silvestre Bello III of the 1-BAP Party-list called on the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People’s Army to return to the negotiating table without preconditions.

He reminded both parties the absence of any precondition as basis for the resumption of the talks.

Bello revealed based on his visit to Jose Maria Sison, chair of Communist Party of the Philippines, and Luis Jalandoni, head of the CNN-peace negotiators not to press on the release of their consultants to continue the peace process with government.

He said setting the preconditions is a violation of the Hague Declaration of 1992 which says that the peace talks must be conducted without any precondition.

Bello said it is wrong to set preconditions to the talks.

He said the situation also applies to the current administration which requires ceasefire as a basis for the resumption of the talks.

Bello said ceasefire with the communist rebels is tantamount to calling them to surrender their firearms.

“I’ve been trying to convince both the CNN and the government to return to the negotiating table without any precondition,” he said.

Bello stressed that the country cannot afford partial peace where it pursues a peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on one hand and fights the communist movement, Moro National Liberation Front and other rebel forces on the other hand.

“If we want progress, we must have total peace all over the country,” he said.

He said he has been wondering why government insists on the Bangsamoro Basic Law but silent with the talks with the communist insurgency.

Bello was the lead peace-panel negotiator in the talks with the CNN during the Ramos Administration.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)