Press Release
September 6, 2009

CHIZ TO GRP, NDF: TALK FIRST, ARGUE LATER

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday pressed the government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) to resume formal peace talks this Saturday in Oslo and set aside disputes that compromise the peace process.

"I call on both sides to resume talks first and discuss contentious issues later, instead of stalling the scheduled Oslo meeting," Escudero said in a statement.

"The resumption of the peace talks is long overdue. Both sides owe it to the Filipino people to sit down and proceed with initiatives to end this decades-old conflict. Nothing will be reached if they continue to doubt each others sincerity," he added.

The GRP and the NDF have accused each other of scuttling the peace talks.

The NDF has charged the government with refusing to release detained consultants and dismiss charges leveled against them. It also said the government is putting the issue of "disarmament, demobilization and reintegration" on top of the agenda, which the NDF resists.

The GRP, on the other hand, said it has already released two of the members of the NDF panel and that the communist group is using the issue to hold off the peace talks.

"These contentious issues can be easily resolved if both sides sit down and discuss possible solutions to the impasse. The important thing is to get the negotiations going. I believe anything can be achieved through effective communications," Escudero said.

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