Galvez: No preconditions to be entertained for peace talks with Reds

Future peace negotiations with the panel members of the Communist Party of the Philippine-New People's Army-National Democratic Front Philippines in Oslo will involve no preconditions and demands will not be entertained, Peace and Reconciliation adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Saturday. 

Galvez said setting any preconditions would derail future engagements between the government and communist groups.  
"There should be no preconditions whatsoever, as these can derail future discussions.  As we have learned from our past experiences, making such preconditions even before the start of the discussions puts a huge burden on both sides when there is still a need to agree on the parameters and framework of the talks," Galvez said. 

Earlier this week, the Philippine security sector announced the release of a Joint Statement signed by both parties expressing their "clear intention to end the decades-long armed conflict, armed struggle, and transform the members of the CPP-NPA-NDFP."

Galvez underscored that the government's future engagements with the communists will be rules-based and inclusive. 

"Our future discussions should be rules-based, consultative, inclusive, and most importantly, all issues from both sides should be formally put on the table and not through other unofficial platforms," he said.  

He added that coming up with such demands when both sides are still in the exploratory phase is "unnecessary and counterproductive" to the peace process.

"I would like to urge other parties to respect the Joint Statement and Oslo Joint Communique and not make preconditions or release propaganda that will water down the peace-building efforts of the previous and current administrations," said Galvez. 

"We respect and appreciate your suggestions. But now is not the time to issue such premature and provocative statements that will compromise the initial 'goodwill' that has been painstakingly built in Oslo," he added. 

Galvez insisted the latest peace engagement with the CPP-NPA-NDFP is "not a resumption or a re-start of the previous talks" but is a "new beginning, a new chapter" in the peace process.

"The forthcoming dialogue will give the parties greater flexibility to engage in meaningful, honest discussions, and by doing so, allow the peace process to move forward at a more definite and faster pace," he added.