Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. GPS News .




WAR REPORT
Philippine leader seeks Norway's help in peace talks
by Staff Writers
Manila (AFP) Jan 09, 2014


Three rebels killed in Colombia fighting
Bogota (AFP) Jan 09, 2014 - Colombian military forces killed three leftist guerrillas Thursday in fighting in a central region of the country, the defense ministry said.

The ministry said the ground combat in the province of Meta was preceded by air strikes.

The three killed were part of a security ring protecting a regional commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, it said, adding that a fourth guerrilla was captured.

The FARC has been in peace talks with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos since November 2012.

But fighting has continued and the government refused to reciprocate after the rebel group declared a unilateral truce last month. It is supposed to run until January 15.

The FARC, formed in 1964, has between 7,000 and 8,000 fighters.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino Thursday sought Norway's help in reviving failed peace talks with Maoist guerrillas, a senior presidential aide said, nearly a year after peace talks hosted by Oslo fell apart.

Aquino met Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende in the Philippine capital after the visiting diplomat said Norway remained committed to mediating negotiations between Manila and the National Democratic Front in a bid to end the decades-long insurgency.

"While serious problems have confronted and continue to challenge this particular peace process, the president affirmed the government's commitment to pursue a peaceful settlement of all internal armed conflict," Teresita Deles, Aquino's principal adviser on the talks, said after the meeting.

The Maoist insurgency has claimed 30,000 lives since 1969 according to government estimates, though its armed force is down to about 4,000 guerrillas from more than 26,000 in the late 1980s.

"The government of the Philippines will continue to consult with Norway as to how the process may move forward in light of current difficulties," said Deles.

In April last year the Aquino government announced that the peace talks being brokered by Norway had collapsed, dampening hopes of a political settlement before the president's six-year term ends in mid-2016.

Speaking to reporters earlier Thursday, Brende urged the Philippine government and Maoist rebels to consider returning to the negotiating table in the coming months.

"We are looking at the opportunities to resume talks in the future... during the (Aquino) presidency," Brende said after meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

On Sunday Luis Jalandoni, the Netherlands-based chief rebel negotiator, said in a statement to news organisations that the Maoists held the Aquino government "responsible for stopping the peace process".

He accused the Philippine government of failing to honour agreements between the negotiators, including the release of detained communist rebels.

"Because of the Aquino government's refusal to comply... the prospects this year of the peace negotiations between the Aquino administration and the (rebels) are dim," he said.

The Aquino government has had better results in negotiations with Muslim rebels, who have waged a guerrilla war for secession in the mainly Catholic nation's south in an insurgency which has claimed 150,000 lives since the early 1970s.

Manila says it is on track to sign a peace treaty with the Muslim rebels before Aquino leaves office.

.


Related Links






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








WAR REPORT
Jordan king, Abbas discuss Mideast peace talks
Amman (AFP) Jan 08, 2014
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas briefed Jordanian King Abdullah II Wednesday on Middle East peace negotiations, after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to find a framework deal for final talks. "The meeting with his majesty focused on exchanging views about unifying the Jordanian-Palestinian position on... Kerry's initiative," the palace quoted Abbas as saying after a meeting with t ... read more


WAR REPORT
Over 350 sick in Japan after eating pesticide-tainted food: NHK

Indonesian palm oil firm to pay losses in 'historic' ruling

Improper use of biocides in food production may endanger public health

Wanted: Billions of bees for European farms

WAR REPORT
Exfoliation method paves way for 2D materials to be used in printable photonics and electronics

Theorists Predict New State of Quantum Matter May Have Big Impact on Electronics

Low-power tunneling transistor for high-performance devices at low voltage

Sharpening the focus in quantum photolithography

WAR REPORT
Five killed in US military helicopter crashs in Britain and US

Northrop expands support for Japan's Hawkeyes

Canada yet to decide which fighter jet will replace CF-18

Two killed, one missing in US Navy helicopter crash

WAR REPORT
Electronic valet parks the car, no tip required

Self-driving vehicles offer potential benefits, policy challenges for lawmakers

Three-wheel $6,800 car gears for 2015 US launch

China auto sales up nearly 14% in 2013: industry

WAR REPORT
China's Fosun buys Portuguese insurer in privatisation

China online marketplace Taobao to ban Bitcoins

Most China execs say cannot work with Japan firms: poll

British conservatives call for further immigration restrictions

WAR REPORT
Long-term overstory and understory change following logging and fire exclusion in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest

Brazil moves to evict invaders from Amazon's Awa lands

Indonesia struggles to clean up corrupt forestry sector

Mangrove forests march up Florida coast as killing frosts decrease

WAR REPORT
Earth may be heaver than thought due to invisible belt of dark matter

More BARREL Balloons Take to the Skies

China's HD observation satellite opens its eyes

UAE to launch indigenous satellite in 2017

WAR REPORT
DNA motor 'walks' along nanotube, transports tiny particle

Cellulose nanocrystals possible 'green' wonder material

Microprinting leads to low-cost artificial cells

New magnetic behavior in nanoparticles could lead to even smaller digital memories




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement