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Southeast Asia
Philippines, communists aim for peace in 18 months
2011-02-23
[Straits Times] THE Philippine government and communist rebels waging one of the world's longest insurgencies are aiming to sign a peace pact within 18 months, the two sides said after holding landmark talks.
Good luck, guys. Hope you make that deadline. You won't mind if we don't hold our breath, though...
The parties released a joint statement late on Monday following the end of a week of negotiations in Norway in which they committed to try and sign a 'comprehensive agreement' to end hostilities came by June of next year.

'The two panels expressed satisfaction over the achievements of the first round of formal talks,' the statement said.

The negotiations in Oslo were the first between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) sides since 2004.

The communists have been waging a rebellion since 1969 and still have about 5,000 New People's Army guerrillas based in the mainly poor, rural areas of the Philippines.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, including dozens of rebels, civilians and security forces over the past few months.
Posted by:Fred

#1  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2011-02-23 22:30  

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