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Philippine gov’t, Communist rebels agree to indefinite truce after Aug. 27
The Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front announced a unilateral indefinite truce after a seven-day ceasefire ends on Saturday, August 27.
The agreement was reached on Friday after five-day formal peace talks in Norway .
"The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) shall declare and issue an indefinite unilateral ceasefire order to the New People’s Army (NPA) and the people’s militia, upon the end of their current ceasefire order on August 27, 2016," the joint statement said.
The unilateral ceasefire was in response to President Rodrigo Duterte's unilateral truce which was effective from August 21.
Both sides have also agreed to work for the declaration of a bilateral ceasefire.
"The negotiating panels agreed to work through their respective ceasefire committees to reconcile and develop their separate unilateral ceasefire orders into a single unified bilateral document within 60 days from the date of this Joint Statement," the joint statement said.
"Said document shall be subject to the approval of their respective Principals," it added.
The government and the NDF are planning to tap a third-party ceasefire monitoring and mediation in relation to implementing the truce, and handling of complaints and alleged violations, the statement said.
"The ceasefire agreement shall be deemed interim in relation to the outcomes of negotiations leading to a Comprehensive Agreement on End of Hostilities and Disposition of Forces," it said.
Duterte, in a speech in a military camp in Davao City , asked soldiers to support the ceasefire.
Both sides also agreed the government peace panel will recommend to Duterte to issue an amnesty proclamation, subject to concurrence of Congress, for release of prisoners who are listed by the NDF and who have been arrested, imprisoned, charged, or convicted for alleged acts or omissions within the ambit of the Revised Penal Code or special laws in connection with alleged crimes in pursuit of one's political belief.
The content and language of the prospective Amnesty Proclamation are yet to be discussed, the joint statement said.
The panels agreed to meet on October 8-12 in No2rway, the third party facilitator.
The peace negotiation between the government and the NDF, the political wing of the CPP-NPA, bogged down since their last formal talks in February 2011. Celerina Monte
