By Junex Doronio

MANILA — History is seemingly in the making with the resumption of peace negotiations between the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) which launched a Maoist-type “armed struggle” that began during the regime of the President’s late father and has persisted for nearly 55 years now.

Norway, reputed as one of the safest and most developed countries in Europe, has agreed to host the peace talks, six years after they were terminated by the Duterte administration which vowed but failed to crush the longest Maoist insurgency in this part of Southeast Asia.

“The parties agree to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict,” read a joint statement issued by both sides, signed in Oslo, Norway last Thursday, November 23.

“The parties acknowledge the deep-rooted socioeconomic and political grievances and agree to come up with a framework that sets the priorities for the peace negotiation.”

Presidential peace adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. noted that both sides have agreed to “a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict.”

He expressed hope that ”This joint communiqué highlights a significant milestone in the quest of the Filipino people to achieve peace, reconciliation, and unity.”

“We will start anew… really a fresh start,” Galvez said.

For her part, NDFP chief negotiator Julieta De Lima-Sison, widow of the late CPP founder Jose Ma. Sison said they will raise some “impediments” such as the release of peace consultants and political prisoners, as well as the terrorist designation of the NDFP.

She added that the “timeline is still being discussed. Maybe next year.”

On the other hand, Connie Ledesma, consultant and wife of former priest and NDFP Chairman Luis Jalandoni, disclosed that the NDFP will also push for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“What we can only answer and the most certain thing is we have signed a joint statement and we are eager to move faster,” Ledesma said.

(ai/mnm)