Philippines: Government signs ceasefire agreement with NDF Communist movement

The Philippine government of President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an indefinite ceasefire agreement with the National Democratic Front (NDF) Communist movement.

Norway, which has been playing an intermediary role in the talks on a peace deal since 2001, announced the agreement, which was made during a meeting in the Norwegian capital Oslo on Friday.

“Representatives of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) Communist movement will sign on Friday August 26, at 11:00 am (0900 GMT), a joint declaration in which the two sides commit to unilateral ceasefires without a limitation in time,” the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said.

Resumption of the peace talks has been a high priority of the administration of President Duterte, who took office on June 30.

The next meeting between the sides is scheduled for October 8 in the Norwegian capital.

“There is a clear plan to accelerate the peace negotiations,” said Jose Maria Sison, the Netherlands-based exiled founder of the Communist party. He told reporters that the peace talks would cover political and economic issues and proposed reforms in the constitution. The negotiations would also pave the way for an amnesty for political prisoners.

The New People’s Army, which is the armed faction of the NDF and operates mainly in the east and south of the Philippines, currently has fewer than 4,000 gunmen.

The decades-long Communist rebellion has left some 40,000 people dead.

SS