RP signs accord with Communists

RP signs accord with Communists

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.