Philippine peace talks continues in July

Rodrigo Duterte.Photo: REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO ARCHIVES, NO RESALES

Peace talks between communist rebels and representative of Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will be resumed in July in Oslo.

It became known after Wednesday that there have been informal peace talks at Lysebu Hotel, as the parties reported.

The formal peace negotiations broke down several years ago. But now, according to a joint statement made by the communist rebels and representatives of the incoming government, the peace negotiations will be resumed in the third week of July in Oslo.

Duterte, a controversial politician who has advocated the killing of criminals, will take over as president of the Philippines on 30 June. Norway has been facilitating the peace process between the country’s government and communist rebels since 2001.

The insurgency has been going on for over 30 years and has cost tens of thousands of lives. There have been several rounds of peace talks, and after Duterte was elected president and invited the Communists to conversations, there is a feeling of hope ahead.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today