Excited for peace
NEGOTIATORS for the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) agreed on three of five substantive issues Tuesday morning as the peace talks with the communist rebels resumed in Oslo, Norway.
The three major issues settled where: Affirmation of previously-signed agreements;
Reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) list; and
Accelerated process for negotiations, including the timeline for the completion of the remaining substantive agenda for the talks: socio-economic reforms; political and economic reforms; and end of hostilities and disposition of forces, including the Joint Monitoring Committee.
“It was a frank and honest discussion among friends. We are candid with each other, knowing that we share the common agenda of peace,” said Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, concurrent chair of the government panel.
More engaging are the videos shared by colleagues and friends who are with the Philippine delegation, particularly the light mood, the smiles, and yes, that hug between long-time comrades Jose Ma. Sison and Benito Tiamzon, who have not even seen each other in person since 1986 when Sison went on exile. Both served as chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
“The warm ambiance is evident. More laughters than serious talk. Nonetheless we sewed up important agreements at the end of the day,” GPH peace panel chair Secretary Jesus G. Dureza wrote on his Facebook status.
Indeed, unlike the talks that preceded this one, the ongoing talks exude with greater excitement and more hope for peace all because the trust among those negotiating for peace is apparent in their smiles and laughter.
We have Filipinos talking about peace, and not adversaries counting who shot more bullets and exploded more bombs.
We can only cheer from the sidelines and send our best wishes that all those who are facing each other to forge peace will continue to be buoyed by that promise of a better future for the generations to come because of an agreement they will be forging to end the war that has stolen hundreds and thousands of lives and destroyed the future of hundreds and thousands, aside from shackling communities to abject poverty and terror.
Indeed, in any endeavor that seeks an end to a long-running conflict, there is no better environment to discuss how to end this than that of trust instead of animosity and mistrust.