In a dialogue with the national minorities camped at the University of the Philippines Diliman, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) panel member Benito Tiamzon and consultant Wilma Austria-Tiamzon updates the national minorities on the peace process and listens to their plight on October 26.

“The NDFP [National Democratic Front of the Philippines] fully supports the demands of the national minorities for self-determination,” declared Austria-Tiamzon.

On the same dialogue, Benito Tiamzon, newly appointed NDFP panel member, said that the progress of the peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP is a fruit of the national minorities and oppressed people’s struggles for genuine change.

“We are even indebted to you and the people’s struggle for our release,” said Tiamzon.

After two years of incarceration, the Tiamzons were released on August 19 in time for the first round of the formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway.

Austria-Tiamzon guaranteed the national minorities present in the dialogue that their plight are among the priority issues in the negotiating table. She added that Moro and indigenous peoples’ issues are included in the NDFP’s 12-point program.

The 10th entry in the NDFP’s 12-point program states that it will “uphold the rights to self-determination and democracy of the Moro people, Cordillera peoples and other national minorities or indigenous peoples.”

Tiamzon updated that after the 2nd round of the formal peace talks last October 6 to 9 in Oslo, Norway, the talks are now focused on socio-economic reforms which aims to craft the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms or CASER.

“The social and economic reforms is the true centerpiece of the peace talks,” said Tiamzon.

The NDFP panel member added that the discussion of social and economic reforms will tackle the serious and fundamental social reforms that is needed to free the country from local and foreign oppression, poverty and underdevelopment through national industrialization and genuine land reform.

“It will be an important discussion that will bridge and address the problems of the national minorities including the workers, peasant and other sectors,” added Tiamzon.

However, Austria-Tiamzon clarified that based on experience, the peace talks is not a guarantee and that the national minorities should continue with their fight to defend their ancestral lands and right to self-determination.

When asked by one of the national minorities if the peace talks have already discussed issues on mining, plantation and militarization in the ancestral land of national minorities, Tiamzon explained that they have not discussed it on the negotiating table yet.

“We are at the level of discussing the general outline and principles [for the CASER]. However, these issues will be discussed and we assure you that we will give considerable attention to it,” reassured Tiamzon.

Another Lumad asked if what they can do about the atrocities of paramilitary in national minorities’ communities, Austria-Tiamzon answered that the New People’s Army (NPA) can arrest paramilitary groups creating havoc in their communities.

Tiamzon added that the Communist Party of the Philippine (CPP) and GRP’s ceasefire declarations does not cover paramilitary groups. He clarified that even the GRP denies the paramilitary’s link to government’s armed forces.

At the end of the dialogue, Sandugo, an alliance of national minorities, gave tokens of their appreciation to the NDFP consultants. Wima Austria-Tiamzon was given a Blaan made comb called ‘suwat’ by Lumad and Moro women leaders to symbolize their gratitude for NDFP’s support in advancing the interest of national minorities. Meanwhile, Benito Tiamzon was given a tubao by Lumad elders to signify that for them he is a ‘bagani’ or a warrior who defends national minorities’ rights.

The Tiamzons emphasized the vital role of the national minorities in the peace talks. They expect Sandugo to submit to the NDFP and GRP panels documentation of their situation and plight so it can be included in drafting the agreement for social and economic reforms.