WILL NORWAY SUCCEED AS A FACILITATOR IN THE GRP-NDF PEACE TALKS?

Norway will not succeed as a facilitator in the GRP-NDF Peace Talks because both parties are not showing the willingness to pursue the talks, and sincerity is a question between the two parties.

For the peace talks to be successful, both parties should be able to recognize the nature of the peace talks. First, peace talks should be done independently by both parties. No form of any intervention and duress must be present in conducting the talks. The GRP should uphold the principle of national sovereignty in conducting the peace talks. This is to be able to assert and promote the national integrity of the Filipino people. As the duly representative of the Filipinos, it is the responsibility of the GRP to promote their national integrity at all cost. The GRP must be independent in making its policies, particularly with regards to the NDF. However, with the present circumstances at hand, it shows that the GRP is still dancing to the music of the US government. First, the US campaign against terrorism to which the GRP also adopts. Second, the recent inclusion of the US State Department of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New Peoples Army (NPA) in its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Although the GRP asserts that it is the US government and the GRP who labeled the CPP and NPA as terrorist, there are reports that it is the GRP, who requested the inclusion of CPP and NPA in the list of FTOs. Third, there is the US hand in the AFP in the forms of VFA, Balikatan exercises, SOF, and MLSA.

Another prerequisite for an effective and successful peace talks is the government must be able to assert its civilian supremacy over the military. According to Garcia, "Recognizing that civilian government must be effectively superior to the military establishment if genuine peace is to be built… the need for the operationalization of the dictum of civilian supremacy over the military…"

However, the GRP fails to assert its civilian supremacy over the military. The AFP plays an active role in the peace process in the country, which should not be the case. The all-out-war approach that the Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Arroyo administration use only projects that the AFP plays an important role in the resolution of the armed conflict When the Aquino administration initiated the peace efforts toward the NDF, the AFP was consistently against it. They are against the idea that the NDF will be enjoying the status of belligerency once the peace talks starts. Thus, this will put the AFP in equal status with that of the NPA. Furthermore, AFP receives millions of pesos in its counterinsurgency programs, during the Aquino administration, and now with its war against terrorism, it has a budget of 50 billion pesos. Not only does the AFP receives local funding from the GRP, it also receives aid from the US government. Also, the escalation of military operations in the countryside is so much prevalent. Numerous human rights violations occur during these military operations but the GRP remains silent on it by delaying the implementation of the CARHRIHL. It is also the Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes who requested the inclusion of the CPP to the FTO. The Defense Department should have not done it because it will retract the policy of the GRP that it will not negotiate with any terrorist group. Once the CPP is labeled as terrorist, the GRP will not negotiate with them anymore. As observed, maybe this is just what the GRP wants to be able to adhere to the war against terrorism of the US government. Moreover, this only shows that the AFP’s uncalled participation in the peace negotiations contributes much to its deterrence. Its ceaseless military operations is an indication of GRP’s insincerity in using the peace talks as a venue to resolve the armed conflict.

The peace talks puts both parties in co-equal status. However, the GRP still continues to deny the status of belligerency of the NDF, as discussed in the first part of the paper. This results to the unresolved contention between the GRP and the NDF. As long as the GRP denies it, this will result to a problem in the implementation of the agreements they will forge. Aside from that violations of the agreements will always be present. Whilst the GRP repudiates it, the capitulation of the NDF will be the sole gauge of GRP’s success in the peace talks. With this, the goal of the peace talks will never be realized.

Norway will not succeed as a facilitator of the GRP/NDF Peace talks because both parties are not showing willingness to pursue the peace talks, and sincerity is a question between the two parties. Although the GRP/NDF were able to forge 10 agreements, they are not seriously and religiously adhering to the agreements they mutually agreed upon. There are also indefinite recesses and suspensions that drag the peace talks. The peace talks between the GRP and the NDF must be free from any intervention. However, the intensifying US intervention in the GRP paralyzes the continuance and progress of the peace talks. In spite of the fact that the peace talks is between the GRP and the NDF, the AFP is still meddling with the process. The escalation of the military operation against the NPA, the armed component of the NDF, contributes to the regression of the peace talks. Furthermore, the GRP still denies the status of belligerency of the NDF to which the NDF regards as a feature it have that enables it to engage in a peace talk with the GRP. As such, the participation of Norway in the peace talks will not determine the success of the peace talks.

The success of the peace talks depends solely on the GRP and the NDF. First, they must adhere to the agreements they forged. This is necessary to foster confidence and trust on both parties. Second, they must be able to subordinate their personal interests for the general interest of the Filipinos who are most affected by their armed conflict. The peace talks is not a one-way street. Both parties are playing a significant role in the peace talks. Therefore, it would be better if they set aside their differences to come up with concrete and attainable agreements that will be advantageous not only for either party, but most importantly, for all the Filipinos. Third, as Garcia puts it, "these processes have taken considerable time". The peace talks confronts several obstacles and it is more than a decade since the talks started. Let this not frustrate both parties for the result of the peace talks will be beneficial for every Filipino. Fourth, it would be better if the two parties stick to their goal: the attainment of a just and lasting peace. There is no contention on the goal that they set for the peace negotiations. Thus, their compliance to it will enable them to develop ways and means that will encourage mutual trust, respect and confidence. Also, it will keep them on the right track towards the resolution of the armed conflict. At this time, the most that the GRP and the NDF can do is to go back on its negotiations and start talking peace again.