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Philippines rebels agreement prisoners terrorist label Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4742595 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=4742595 Philippines, Rebels Agree Release of Prisoners Sat Apr 3, 2004 08:31 AM ET By Inger Sethov OSLO (Reuters) - The Philippines government and communist rebels agreed on Saturday on a timeframe for releasing some political prisoners and moved toward resolving a dispute over a "terrorist" label that has overshadowed peace talks. In a joint statement after a second round of talks in Oslo, the parties also agreed to set up a secretariat by the end of April for a planned joint monitoring committee to help end a 35-year-old conflict that has killed about 40,000. Representatives of the Manila government and the rebel National Democratic Front (NDF), who met in the Norwegian capital last month after a break since 2001, decided on a plan to free 32 political prisoners by May 4. "We welcome the commitment to release 32 political prisoners... and we will be pushing for more because that is only about 10 percent of those who are imprisoned," Luis Jalandoni, head of the NDF delegation, told reporters. Manila, which is also seeking a peace deal with Muslim rebels, is hoping to seal a peace accord with both communist and Muslim rebels to boost overall security in the country and shore up investor confidence. Jalandoni repeated the rebels' objection to U.S., European Union, Australian and Canadian listings of parts of the rebel alliance as "terrorists" but expressed confidence that the label would be scrapped as peace talks moved along. "Neither side is perfect, but it is ridiculous to put (the rebels) alongside what would be considered as senseless violence caused by terrorist groups internationally," he said. "We are confident that the obstacle will be resolved." The Philippines government reiterated it hoped to reach a final peace accord in six months. "That's a very reasonable target," said government negotiator Silvestre Bello. Bello rejected criticism the government was rushing the peace talks in order to win votes in May 10 national elections. "That suspicion has been unfounded," he said. Jalandoni said that a six-month timeframe, which has been previously proposed but never agreed, was not realistic in reaching a final peace accord, but perhaps for completing an agreement on social and economic reform. He said many obstacles remained, including the elections, and that an earlier suggested 18-month timeframe was "already a relatively optimistic target." The two negotiators held separate news conferences in Oslo. Manila and the rebels agreed to meet for a third round of formal talks on April 26-29, possibly in Oslo.

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