Sunday, April 04, 2004
Communist rebels welcome pledge of prisoner releases (12:12 p.m.)
MANILA -- Communists welcomed the government's promise that it would release 32 detained insurgents, saying the gesture would promote goodwill ahead of peace talks.
Philippine negotiators agreed, in talks with representatives of the National Democratic Front in Oslo, Norway over the weekend, to free 32 prisoners in batches this month and next.
The front is the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and its armed component the New People's (NPA) Army, which has been waging an armed struggle for 35 years.
Party spokesman Gregorio Rosal said the release of the prisoners was long overdue, noting that it was first promised by the government during talks in 2001, which were later suspended.
"Despite the long delay, the forthcoming release of 32 political prisoners is at least a good start for the building of confidence in the present peace negotiations," Rosal said in a statement released in Manila.
However, he said the 32 prisoners formed only a portion of the more than 300 insurgents the party wants freed.
Philippine negotiators in Norway said the government wanted a comprehensive peace agreement with the rebels within six months. AFP |
