RP signs accord with Communists

Tue, 17 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB | Source: AFP

MANILA (AFP): The Philippine government was due to sign a
human rights accord with Communist guerrillas in the Netherlands
yesterday. The government said the breakthrough should shortly
lead to a cease-fire.

Negotiators from the National Democratic Front (NDF),
representing the leaders of the 29-year Maoist rebellion, and
Manila officials were scheduled to sign the accord in The Hague
at 2 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Jakarta time).

The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law is a major step in negotiations to
settle the conflict, which the government said had claimed more
civilian than military casualties.

Peace talks have been taking place intermittently in the
Netherlands, where the NDF's international office has been based,
since 1992.

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