NDF accuses gov’t of sabotaging peace talks By Mario J. Mallari 10/13/2011

NDF accuses gov’t of sabotaging peace talks

By Mario J. Mallari 10/13/2011

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) has accused the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) of “sabotaging” the peace process by not complying with previous agreements which call for the release of 17 individuals covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee (Jasig).

In a statement, NDF peace panel spokesman Fidel Agcaoili said the GRP’s failure to release the 17 Jasig-protected NDFP consultants makes the scheduled resumption of the peace negotiations on Oct. 31 impossible.

Agcaoili claimed that even the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG), which is the third party facilitator of the talks, has expected the GRP to abide by the Oslo Joint Statements signed January and February this year calling for the release of the NDF consultants on or before Oct. 10.

“By failing to perform its obligation, the GRP has made impossible the resumption of formal talks on Oct. 31 in Oslo. It has practically sabotaged the agreement to hold a new round of formal talks from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12,” Agacoili said..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111013nat3.html