THE backdoor is a symbol of reconnecting and reconciliation. As in movies or in novels, one finds a character driven out of the house via the front door, but they still can go back and check on their folks via the back door.
The window is also an alternate for the back door. Our president has also used “window” in explaining his role in reaching out to the other groups engaged in a revolutionary path.
During his time as mayor, he said he would like a government to keep the window open to talk peace. Because he has said three things that are important: what has the fighting between government forces and the “others” achieved? There is historical injustice that has led to decades of fighting, especially in Mindanao for the Bangsamoro, and we are all Filipinos.
But lately, this government is talking back doors, as in back-channel talks particularly with the National Democratic Front, which has waged a Maoist-inspired revolution of liberating millions of peasants from the yoke of landlessness and poverty, oligarchy and patronage.
One might wonder why this back door talk when the president already cancelled the talks last year, told his foot soldiers to flatten the hills and proclaimed the other side, the Reds, as a terrorist group. One might say that not all in government, especially the government’s peace panel and adviser, see the military solution as the solution to the decades-long conflict.
But alas, before the back channel talks could have set things going, the government decided to postpone the talks for three to six months to review the agreements discussed during the back channel talks.
This makes one wonder what is really happening. Reading and listening to interviews with the peace panelists can provide insights on how these back channel talks could have set the resumption of the talks.
NDF peace panel chair Fidel Agcaoili revealed that the back door talks started as early as March, with the government panelist led by chief negotiator Bebot Bello and Nani Braganza consulting on drafting agreements that would be ready to signal the start of the talks.
These agreements include the interim peace agreement which would be signed with the signing of the drafts of the socio-economic reform agenda, and the stand down order for both sides’ forces.
Agcaoili wonder why the president needed more time to review. What happened between March to June? Did the government panel which had not briefed the president on the details of the agreements?
Agcaoili and NDF chief consultant Joma Sison voiced apprehension what would happen three to six months from now? In context of reports of militarization in Lumad schools and communities, bombing of Moro communities, the repression of striking workers in NutriAsia, the round-up of tambays, and the effect of TRAIN on prices, it seems people are more hard up.
It also means the window and the back door are getting shut, not just for peace with the Reds, but for a just peace with food, farms, jobs and better life for Filipinos.
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