Aceh peace talks in Switzerland
\nto hammer out details of cease-fire<\/p>\n
Lely T. Djuhari
\nAssociated Press
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Peace talks between Aceh separatists and the Indonesian
\ngovernment slated for mid October in Switzerland will hammer out
\nways to end hostilities in their 25-year conflict, a rebel
\nspokesman said Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"We have been given proposals by the Indonesian government
\nearlier this month on how to carry out a cessation of
\nhostilities,\" said Bachtiar Abdullah, a spokesman for the Free
\nAceh Movement, in a phone interview from Stockholm, Sweden, where
\nthe movement's government-in-exile is based.<\/p>\n
\"We are currently studying it and will discuss it in mid
\nOctober,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rebels want independent international mediators to monitor the
\ncease-fire, which Jakarta has previously opposed but now
\nsupports, according to Abdullah.<\/p>\n
The two sides entered into a cease-fire in 2000 but that
\ncollapsed the following year amid escalating bloodshed.<\/p>\n
Abdullah voiced concern about the recent military clampdown on
\nforeigners in Aceh. On Sept. 10, security forces detained British
\nresearcher Lesley McCulloch and American nurse Joy Lee Sadler.
\nPolice accuse them of contacting the guerrillas and possessing
\nrebel documents and photos.<\/p>\n
\"It is not true. The women never met any of my men in Aceh,\"
\nAbdullah said.<\/p>\n
Top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned rebels
\non Saturday not to stall the peace talks organized by the Geneva-
\nbased Henry Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.<\/p>\n
\"For Indonesia, the sooner the talks begin, the better,\"
\nYudhoyono told reporters after a two-day tour of western Aceh.
\nJakarta has offered the region greater autonomy in handling its
\ninternal affairs and a larger share of revenue from the
\nprovince's resources. It has urged insurgents to accept the
\nautonomy offer by Dec. 7, the end of the Muslim fasting month of
\nRamadhan, or face a possible military crackdown.<\/p>\n
Up to 10,000 people - mainly civilians - have been killed in
\nfighting since 1976 in the gas and oil-rich province on the
\nnorthern tip of Sumatra island. About 900 have died so far this
\nyear.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-peace-talks-in-switzerland-1447899208",
"image": ""
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