MANILA // Two top Philippine communist rebel leaders walked out of a maximum-security prison on Friday to join next week’s resumption of peace talks aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest continuous rebellions.
The Communist Party of the Philippines welcomed the release of 22 detained rebels who will now take part in the negotiations from August 22 yo — 27 in Oslo as consultants, saying the move boosts confidence in President Rodrigo Duterte’s determination to find peace.
Leading rebel couple Benito and Wilma Tiamzon smiled and raised their fists as they stepped out of detention at the national police headquarters, where their supporters greeted them.
In a press conference, they thanked Mr Duterte for their release and for a restart of the talks that will tackle wide-raging reforms in a bid to end the conflict.
“These releases are goodwill measures that will create a positive environment for the progress of the peace talks,” Mr Tiamzon said.
His wife called on Filipino youth to become more involved in fighting the “monsters” of society.
“For the Filipino youth and other countrymen now hooked on catching monsters in ‘Pokemon Go,’ you know, there are so many real monsters in our country,” said Wilma Tiamzon, to laughter in the room. “Instead of Pokemon Go, what is better is Revolution Go.”
The insurgency has left about 150,000 combatants and civilians dead since it broke out in the late 1960s, drawing support from the ranks of those dissatisfied with economic inequality and the Philippines’ alliance with the United States. It also has stunted economic development, especially in the countryside, where the rebels are active.
Mr Tiamzon is the chairman of the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, according to the military. Mrs Tiamzon is said to be the secretary general.
Their release after posting bail on charges including multiple murders comes after an initial setback to the rebels’ friendly ties with Mr Duterte, who calls himself a leftist president.
Mr Duterte declared a ceasefire on July 25 but withdrew it five days later after the guerrillas killed a government militiaman in a landmine attack and failed to declare their own truce within his deadline.
Under Benigno Aquino III, peace talks stalled over the government’s refusal to heed a rebel demand for the release of some captured members. Mr Duterte, however, has agreed to the release of rebels who would be involved in peace talks, and appointed two allies of the guerrillas to cabinet posts in concessions aimed at fostering the talks.
* Associated Press
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
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Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
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Friday:
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Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
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HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT
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16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
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5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
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Zones
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Tomorrow 2021
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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War
Director: Siddharth Anand
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Rating: Two out of five stars
