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Rebel Arrest Overshadows Philippine Peace Talks

   VOA News  February 15, 2011
   Philippines'  government  representative  Alexander A. Padilla (L) and
   Luis  G.  Jalandoni  of  the  communist  National Democratic Front (R)
   exchange  documents  before resuming their peace talks in Asker, south
   of Oslo, February 15, 2011.

Photo: REUTERS

   Philippines'  government  representative  Alexander A. Padilla (L) and
   Luis  G.  Jalandoni  of the communist National Democratic Front (R) at
   the first peace talks in six years, Oslo, February 15, 2011.

   Philippine  negotiators  sat down with communist rebel leaders for the
   first time in six years Tuesday for peace talks that were overshadowed
   by the arrest of a rebel leader.
   The  week-long  talks  are  being  held  in  a suburb of the Norwegian
   capital Oslo.
   At  the  start of the talks, both sides expressed hope for progress in
   ending an insurgency that has spanned four decades and claimed tens of
   thousands of lives.
   But  the  rebels'  chief  negotiator, Luis Jalandoni, alleged that the
   arrest  Monday  of  Alan Jazmines was an attempt by security forces to
   disrupt  the  talks. He said Jazmines, a member of the Communist Party
   of  the  Philippines  central committee, must be "released immediately
   and unconditionally so there will be no disruption of the formal peace
   talks."
   Jazmines,  who was captured Monday in a village north of Manila, faces
   charges of rebellion and murder.
   Previous  talks  between  the  rebels and the Philippine government of
   President Gloria Arroyo broke down in 2004 after the CPP and its armed
   wing,  the  New  People's  Army, were added to U.S. and European Union
   lists of terrorist organizations.

   "These  talks  will  drag on for some time and there will be headlines
   now and again," says Gerald Finan, a senior fellow at the Hawaii-based
   [1]East-West  Center.  But he adds, "I would be very surprised if they
   lead to any significant results."

   The  rebels  agreed  on  January  18  to  the  current  talks with the
   government  of  President  Benigno  Aquino,  who came into office last
   year.  But less than a week later, the rebels killed five policemen in
   a well-planned ambush in the northern Philippines.

   Listen to more of Gerald Finan's interview with VOA's Victor Beattie

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

References

   1. http://www.eastwestcenter.org/about-ewc/origins/

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