Resumption of the peace talks?

SHOULD our Government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) peace panel resume their peace negotiations?

Personally I believe that they should stop the peace talks. They should come back here to the Philippines and join the struggle in our Congress and Senate.

There is no need any more to go to Holland or to Norway or to Rome. The Communists can join the party-list group and discuss with the government the reforms that are necessary in our society.

Jose Maria Sison is a hardliner. He believes in a class-less society. But that is nonsense. There always will be classes in society but it is up to the people to remove the upper and lower class by creating an attitude of concern and compassion for each other, through cooperation and compatibility with each other.

Right now, Sison is enjoying all the benefits of a socialized country that Holland is. The Dutch government should cancel his political asylum status and send him back to the Philippines.

I myself was instrumental for the peace panel to go to Holland but I could personally talk to Luis Jalandoni, who is also an ex-priest like me, and I believe I can convince him to stop the peace talks. I would like to pray with him and our people here in the Philippines the following prayer of the Carmelites for peace: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it” (John 1:5).

“Lord God our Father, we look up to you with humble gratitude and humble appreciation for giving us your only Son Jesus Christ, the Mystic and Prophet, in whose footsteps, we are called to follow You. Bless us with an outpouring of Your Spirit. Help us to live in constant communion with You.

"Give us clarity of Your Vision and Passion for Your Mission, to commit ourselves to create a new value-based society. Jesus, our Revolutionary Leader, give us your reformed Spirit, to have passion for God and a deep compassion for humanity, to read the signs of the times: to speak out when others remain silent, and to despise all that is not in conformity with the will of God. O Holy Spirit, our guiding light, we humbly ask You, to accompany us, to guide us in our discernment, to elect leaders with a spirit of both a 'mystic and prophet.'

"Through the intercession of our servant Titus Brandsma, the patron of the Carmelites, we ask for your mercy and help. Titus labored zealously in your vineyard and gave his life freely in the concentration camp in Dachau because of his faith in Jesus.

"May our people in the Philippines be a light through the example of Titus, in obeying Your will and not their own will. Mary, Mother of Carmel, may we be like you, daring and dauntless, to reach out and empower the poor and the powerless. Guide us, dear Mother, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, the Mystic and Prophet. Amen."

Let there be peace in the world and in the Philippines! (for your comment email: nolvanvugt@gmail.com)