Leftist rebels question Philippine gov't's sincerity in pursuing peace negotiations

National Democratic Front (NDF) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni has questioned the sincerity of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III in pursuing peace negotiations with the leftist rebels because of its failure to release many NDF consultants.

Inside a statement, Netherlands-based Jalandoni stated the 17 detainees, led by Tirso Alcantara, are nonetheless in government custody, 4 months right after government negotiators agreed to operate for their "expeditious release."

The government has signed a joint communique with all the NDF, political wing of the Communist Party from the Philippines (CPP) to work for the release of those folks who are serving as NDF consultants and individuals who are covered by protection beneath the 1995 Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

"The sincerity with the government of the Philippines under President 'Noynoy' Aquino is beneath severe question due to the failure to release Alan Jazmines along with other Consultants from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and JASIG- protected persons," stated Jalandoni.

Jalandoni said the government need to also comply with its commitment throughout the formal peace negotiations in February "to undertake actions to release of prisoners and detainees."

He said 340 political prisoners are nonetheless detained, awaiting concrete actions from the government in relation for the 1998 Complete Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

The New People's Army (NPA), armed wing from the CPP, has been waging a guerrilla campaign inside the countryside for extra than four decades. The Philippine military estimates that you will find some 4, 700 NPA guerrilla fighters scattered in far more than 60 provinces throughout the Southeast Asian country.

In Feburary, the Philippine government as well as the leftist rebels resumed in Oslo, Norway the formal peace talks, which had been suspended for six years, in a bid to bring an end for the protracted insurgency.

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