EU willing to support interim ceasefire between gov't, Reds

The European Union (EU) is willing to support the implementation of a joint interim ceasefire between the Philippine government and communist rebels.

“This interim agreement demonstrates the power of political processes to resolve conflict. It is an encouraging step towards generating goodwill and trust in the peace negotiations, to encourage the forging of a more stable and comprehensive joint ceasefire agreement and to provide an enabling environment for an early signing of a Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (Caser),” the EU said in a statement on Thursday.

“If asked, the European Union stands ready to support the implementation of the agreement,” it said.

The agreement was reached during the fourth round of formal talks in the Netherlands by the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the umbrella organization representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the talks.

The agreement will be effective once a permanent ceasefire agreement is forged as part of a Comprehensive Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces.

In a joint statement, the two sides agreed “to forge a joint interim ceasefire agreement,” adding that this will be “more stable” than the separate unilateral ceasefire declarations issued by the rebels and the government.

“The interim joint ceasefire will be signed simultaneous to or immediately after the signing of the (Caser) expected to be finished within the year,” the statement said.

Ambassador Franz Jessen said the EU would continue to support and monitor developments of the peace talks with CPP-NPA-NDF.

Despite the interim joint ceasefire agreed upon on Wednesday in the Netherlands, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said there is no truce yet between government forces and communist rebels.

“There is no ceasefire in place yet until enforceable ground rules are agreed upon by the parties,” Dureza said.

Dureza said the government and NDF peace panels have agreed on the interim joint ceasefire, but the parties must set the ground rules first to render it implementable.

“The interim ceasefire shall become permanent when the final peace agreement shall have been signed, which will usher the end of hostilities and disposition,” Dureza said.

Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, who was among the signatories to the agreement as adviser of the government panel, explained the ceasefire guidelines and ground rules would be formulated by the government and the NDF in a Joint Ceasefire Committee to oversee the temporary cessation of hostilities.