Awwal 12, 1432 H/Feb15, 2011, SPA -- Peace talks between the Philippine government and the leftist National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) opened Tuesday in Norway - amid calls for the release of a rebel leader arrested on the eve of the talks. Communist rebels in the Philippines earlier Tuesday demanded the immediate release of Allan Jazmines who was arrested Monday in Baliuag town, north of the capital Manila, dpa reported. The Communist Party of the Philippines said Jazmines is a consultant of the rebel group's negotiating panel and should be covered by an agreement granting immunity from arrests. The call for the release of Jazmines and other detainees was reiterated by NDFP negotiator Luis Jalandoni in his opening remarks in Oslo. The week-long closed door session is due to end Monday. The agenda includes talks on social and economic reform. The sides have also declared a week-long ceasefire during the talks. Norwegian State Secretary Espen Barth Eide attended the opening session and touched on the difficult challenges facing the two sides over the long-standing conflict. Communist rebels have been fighting the Philippine government since the late 1960s, making it one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies. Norway has since 2001 served as a so-called third party facilitator between the two sides. Last month they agreed to resume peace negotiations that have been stalled since 2004.
