7-day truce before Oslo peace talks

Photo by Edwin Espejo/Rappler

A week-long unilateral ceasefire was declared yesterday by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) before the peace talks between the communist rebels and the Philippine government resume.

The CPP-NPA ceasefire will start 12:01 am on Sunday, August 21, and will end by 11:59 pm of Saturday, August 27.


It will be conducive to the 5-day peace talks in Oslo, Norway, between the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the CPP’s political arm, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“This ceasefire declaration is encouraged by the GRP’s facilitation of the release of nearly all NDFP consultants who are set to participate in peace negotiations in the course of the next several months,” the CPP-NPA said.

Earlier yesterday, Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Tiamzon—both NDFP consultants—were temporarily released so they can participate in the peace talks.

The CPP is also expecting the release of other NDFP consultants who are set to join the negotiations. They also expressed their “deep appreciation of the determined efforts of GRP President Duterte to push forward and accelerate the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations as a means of addressing the roots of the civil war in the Philippines.”

“We hope that this ceasefire declaration will be reciprocated by the GRP as a show of all-out determination to move forward with peace negotiations.” 

The CPP also disclosed that a longer ceasefire is a possibility upon the release of all political prisoners. ASCS

Source: Rappler

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