“We can smell peace” – fisherfolk lauds recent peace dev’t
“We can smell peace” – fisherfolk lauds recent peace dev’t
Manila, Philippines – The fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday lauded the recent development of the peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the revolutionary-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
During the second round of 3-day peace talks which began on October 6 in Oslo, Norway, the two parties agreed on the common frameworks and outlines of the last three substantive agendas, namely, the Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reforms (CASER), political and constitutional reforms, and the cessation of hostilities/disposition of forces.
For its part, the fisherfolk group expressed its full support on the ongoing peace talks for this will not only end the prolonged civil war in the country but on top of it, will address its roots, which are poverty and injustice. Socio-economic reforms proposed by the NDFP will detach our stunted economy from all foreign dictates that fuels industrial and agrarian backwardness resulting to widespread poverty among our working and rural people.
Meanwhile, the fisherfolk warned President Duterte’s administration to be cautious on the possible sabotage from the United States and its local doormats appointed in the government.
“President Duterte should be vigilant on the possible peace derangement from Uncle Sam’s apologists who want to retain the status quo of the neo-colonial rul. There are also these hard line militarists who want to address the root causes of armed conflict in a fascist way,”
“For our part, we are in full support on the administration’s initiatives towards a genuine development to attain the lasting peace that is based on the democratic rights and interests of the Filipino people,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya Chairperson said in a statement. ###
Pamalakaya-Pilipinas 