Aceh peace talks resume with both sides equally adamant<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) resumed peace
\ntalks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, but with both sides
\nsticking to their agendas it remains to be seen if this latest
\nround of talks can break the deadlock.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday
\nany solution to the prolonged conflict in Aceh must be addressed
\nwithin the framework of the unitary state of Indonesia and the
\nspecial autonomy law for the province.<\/p>\n
And GAM negotiators demanded earlier that the military halt
\nits operations in the troubled province, while insisting that the
\ngroup would continue fighting for independence.<\/p>\n
In peace talks in February, GAM agreed to use special autonomy
\nstatus as the basis for future negotiations.<\/p>\n
Hassan said on Wednesday he was optimistic the two sides would
\nbe able to meet halfway in their demands, while emphasizing that
\ncountries such as Sweden and the United States were making
\nefforts to persuade GAM to accept special autonomy as a final
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
\"Several countries including Sweden have reiterated their
\ncommitment to support Indonesia's territorial integrity, while
\nacknowledging special autonomy (for Aceh) as the final solution.<\/p>\n
\"This same stance has been taken by the United States, which
\nhas also made efforts to bring GAM to the negotiating table and
\nto accept the special autonomy,\" Hassan said after a Cabinet
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
When asked about the separatist movement's persistent demand
\nfor independence from Indonesia, Hassan said: \"They (GAM) know
\nthat there is no (international) support for Aceh's
\nindependence.\"<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed Hassan's statement, saying he
\nreceived a concrete agreement during his recent trip to Sweden
\nthat the international community supported talks aimed at GAM's
\nacceptance of the special autonomy offered by Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Susilo also said that Indonesia would make efforts to hold any
\nfuture talks in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Another agreement we wish to reach is the shifting of the
\nmeetings to Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Despite of the numerous rounds of peace talks between
\nIndonesia and GAM, allegations of human rights abuses continue to
\ncome out of the resource-rich province, increasing the distrust
\nof the Acehnese for the security apparatus there.<\/p>\n
More than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have died
\nsince the struggle to establish an independent state which began
\nin 1976, with more than 400 having died this year alone.<\/p>\n
The Henry Dunant Center-sponsored talks are being attended by
\nBritish Lord Avenbury, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East
\nAnthony Zinny and former Thai foreign affairs minister Pitsuwan.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is represented by Wiryono Sastrohandoyo and National
\nMilitary Police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B.<\/p>\n
GAM is represented by Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, Tgk. Muhammad
\nUsman, T. Kamaruzzaman, Amni Ahmad Marzuki and Amdi bin Hamdani.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-peace-talks-resume-with-both-sides-equally-adamant-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}