MANILA, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Philippine Maoists on Tuesday demanded the release of one of their leaders who was arrested just ahead of the resumption of peace negotiations in Norway, accusing security forces of attempting to disrupt the talks.
The formal talks in Oslo, the first since August 2004, start on Tuesday. They are not expected to produce immediate results to end an insurgency that dates back to the late 1960s, but the sides could agree to hold more negotiations and prolong a ceasefire.
Alan Jazmines, a top communist leader, was detained in a raid on a rebel hideout north of Manila on Monday, hours before the start of a seven-day ceasefire between the government and the New People&${esc.hash}39;s Army (NPA).
"The arrest of Jazmines is an attempt by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to disrupt the peace negotiations," Luis Jalandoni, the rebels&${esc.hash}39; chief negotiator, said in a statement.
Jalandoni said Jazmines had to be freed as he was a consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the rebels&${esc.hash}39; political arm engaged in the peace talks, and covered by an immunity agreement.
"It is imperative that Jazmines be released immediately and unconditionally so that there will be no disruption of the formal peace talks," he said.
The government and the Maoist-led NDF have been in stop-start negotiations for nearly 25 years to end one of the world&${esc.hash}39;s longest-running communist insurgencies that has killed 40,000 people. For a factbox on the talks, see
The 4,000-strong NPA has been blamed for attacks and extortion on mines, farms, construction and other businesses, including mobile phone companies, scaring away potential investors away rural areas.
Last week, government negotiators said they were optimistic talks would produce results in 18 months and saw "peace achievable in three years if both sides are focused and sincere in finally ending senseless violence".
Analysts do not share that optimism, saying there are many serious obstacles to peace talks, although the negotiations could reduce violence, particularly human rights abuses.
"Neither side will win militarily," risk consultancy International Crisis Group said on Monday. "It is far better to negotiate than to wage an unwinnable war or wait for the organisation to disintegrate over time, with the risk that NPA fighters will simply swell the ranks of the many hired guns." (Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by John Mair and Nick Macfie)
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