Philippines communist peace talks

ROME: The Philippines expressed hope on Thursday of securing a permanent ceasefire deal with communist rebels waging one of Asia’s longest insurgencies, as peace talks resumed in Italy.

The communists have been waging a “national democratic revolution” since 1968 to overthrow a capitalist system that has created one of Asia’s biggest rich-poor divides and claimed 30,000 lives, according to the military.

A new round of negotiations began in Rome on Thursday, with the government’s chief negotiator Silvestre Bello saying longstanding contentious issues could be “hurdled”.

“I am one with President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s optimism that in this round of talks, we are able to finalise and approve the joint ceasefire agreement,” Bello said at the opening of the talks.

“There are reasons to hope we can hurdle the task.” Duterte, 71, said it was his “dream” to secure a lasting peace deal within his six-year term.

After assuming office in June last year, the self-styled socialist launched the peace process and appointed three communists to his cabinet.

Both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire during talks in Norway last August. The government said then it was aiming for a final peace deal within 12 months.

However, the communists said this week they would need at least two more years after negotiators agreed on a series of economic and political reforms before even beginning “serious discussions” on a final peace pact.

On Thursday, the communists’ chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili pointed out “serious obstacles” in the talks as he reiterated the rebels’ demand that nearly 400 jailed guerillas be released.