Norway hails ceasefire in Philippines peace talks

OSLO

Norway's foreign minister has hailed a major breakthrough in peace talks taking place in Oslo, after the Philippine government and Maoist guerrillas agreed an indefinite extension to a ceasefire to facilitate further talks on a deal.

In a statement released Friday, Borge Brende said representatives for the government and the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) had reached an agreement Thursday that will "ensure immunity and security for key National Democratic Front Party (NDFP) representatives," allowing the political wing of the CPP to take part in continued negotiations.

"Among the most important points that have been agreed is that both parties will implement a unilateral ceasefire for an indefinite period," said Brende. "This has never before been achieved in this peace process and is regarded as a major breakthrough."

He added that a peace panel made up of representatives from both sides would urge the Philippines president to grant an amnesty for all political prisoners with links to the NDFP, subject to Congress approval.

"The parties have agreed to speed up the peace process, and aim to reach the first substantial agreement on economic and social reforms within six months. They plan to follow this up with an agreement on political and constitutional reforms, before a final agreement on ending the armed conflict can be signed."

He underlined that the "intentions behind the declaration, combined with the constructive negotiation climate, will form the basis for further peace talks".

The four days of talks began Monday when representatives for the Philippine Government and the NDFP gathered in Oslo to discuss ways to end the 47-year conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people.

Norway hosted informal talks in June between representatives for the government and NDFP, when the parties agreed to resume formal peace negotiations.

Previous negotiations with the CPP and its political arm collapsed in 2004 after the communists withdrew from the negotiating table on account of the renewed inclusion of CPP founder Jose Maria Sison and the movement's armed wing, the New People's Army, on the United States terrorist list.

In 2014, negotiations again failed because previous President Benigno Aquino III turned down the rebels' demand to release detained comrades -- accusing the rebels of insincerity in efforts to achieve a political settlement.

However, as part of his election promise new President Rodrigo Duterte -- who won the May 9 election -- proposed to grant a general amnesty for the release of all political prisoners if party leaders returned from exile and sat down for negotiations.

He also offered the CPP posts in his new government to smooth the way.

The conflict, waged since March 1969 -- making it the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia -- has claimed more than 3,000 lives over the past eight years, according to the military.

It estimates that the number of NPA members has dropped from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s to less than 4,000.