Chief Reporter

Peace Speaking Tour Kicks Off in Christchurch, NDFP Leaders Tackle Outstanding Issues, Prospects of Peace Talks under Aquino

New Zealanders express international support for peace talks without preconditions in the Philippines as they host the Peace Speaking Tour of MR. LUIS JALANDONI and MS CONI LEDESMA, representatives of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Peace Negotiating Panel, from 24 October – 12 November around New Zealand.

Addressing Filipinos and New Zealanders in the city of Christchurch, Jalandoni and Ledesma shared latest news about prospects of reviving the stalled peace talks. In a welcome development, Philippine Pres. Benigno Aquino III's appointed human rights lawyer Alexander Padilla as the government’s chief negotiator for the peace talks. Padilla reportedly expressed that there were better chances now to forge a peace agreement under the Aquino administration.

For their part, Jalandoni and Ledesma presented the 12-point NDFP programme at the Christchurch public meeting, saying "There's no short cut to a peace agreement, solving fundamental socio-economic issues like landlessness and joblessness of the vast majority is crucial to resolving the decades-old conflict. Land reform is a principal issue that must be addressed to pave the way for just and lasting peace in the Philippines."

Aquino gov’t urged to implement land reform

"At the very core of the NDFP program is the genuine land reform that will adequately respond to the demand of the peasantry which comprises the overwhelming majority of the population. A small landed elite and foreign multinationals monopolize land ownership in the country," Jalandoni stressed. The NDFP leader described the reality of land monopoly in the Philippines with the outstanding case that hounds Pres. Aquino - the long disputed Cojuangco-Aquino owned Hacienda Luisita covering 6,453-hectares of land that could benefit thousands of poor peasant families if redistributed justly.

From Christchurch, Jalandoni and Ledesma will also speak in public meetings organised by Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), Wellington Kiwi Pinoy (WKP) and Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) in Blenheim, Wellington (they have already spoken in Blenheim – where they also visited the Waihopai spybase - and Wellington), Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Whangarei and Auckland. Awaiting approval of Jalandoni's application for an Australian visa, they hope to fly for a similar speaking tour 15-25 November in major cities in Australia.

"We are hopeful that like Norway and The Netherlands that have hosted formal peace talks and ‘backdoor negotiations,’ New Zealand and Australia can also play significant roles in urging the Aquino government and NDFP to immediately return to the peace negotiating table without preconditions,” Murray Horton, PSNA Secretary and main tour organiser stated.

“Being a major labour-exporting country and trade partner of New Zealand, the Philippines’ fragile peace process certainly deserves our attention. By organising this tour, we present a unique opportunity for New Zealanders to hear firsthand about a four decades long war and accompanying peace process in our Asian neighbour where NZ dairy products are widely marketed while Filipinos have been filling NZ’s skills shortage in return,” Horton added.

"Like Norway, we believe that New Zealand can play a positive role by supporting the peace process and campaigns to end land-rooted human rights violations and US military intervention in the Philippines. While New Zealanders were recently devastated by a massive earthquake here in Christchurch, the Filipino people need peace and security as they have long been devastated by both natural and man-made calamities such as large-scale government corruption and massive social inequalities that fuel armed conflict,” Horton concluded. #

ENDS

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