Press Release

Community reception held in the Netherlands to celebrate resumption of peace talks held in Oslo-August 22-26 – 2016

By: Linangan – Willem Geertman Art and Culture Network 
Photos: Eddie Flores (MN)
Utrecht-The Netherlands
August 30, 2016



Utrecht – August 28, 2016: A warm community reception was held last August 28 at the Kultura Pilipina in Utrecht, The Netherlands to celebrate the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). It was also held to welcome the newly-released political prisoners who participated as NDFP consultants in the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway last August 22-26, 2016.


The reception was hosted by several migrant Filipino organizations and solidarity groups and was attended by more than 100 Filipinos and European solidarity activists from the Netherlands, Belgium Germany.

Highlights of the celebration were the rousing cultural performances of Filipino, Dutch and Belgian solidarity activists, remarks from Luis Jalandoni, Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Peace Panel, Prof. Jose Maria Sison, Chief Political Consultant of the NDFP, former Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza, member of the GRP Negotiating Peace Panel, former NDFP Peace Panel member and columnist Satur Ocampo, messages from the political prisoners namely, Benito Tiamzon, Wilma Tiamzon and Concha Araneta-Bocala.

The NDFP speakers focused on the essence of the peace talks and emphasized that peace could only be achieved by genuinely addressing the root causes of poverty, unemployment, social injustice and inequality, landlessness and underdevelopment.

The cultural program was followed by a sumptuous meal prepared by Filipino and Belgian groups. The political prisoners also had the chance to mingle with compatriots so they could share their stories inside prison and the work they were doing before they went to prison and also listen to the situation of migrant Filipinos.

---

See related article:
GRP-NDFP JOINT STATEMENT at the Oslo Peace Talks August 22-26, 2016 ……
Agreement on 6 major issues bodes well for success of peace talks

---