Aceh talks move slowly in Switzerland<\/p>\n
Agencies, Geneva, Switzerland<\/p>\n
Talks between Indonesian government officials and
\nseparatist rebels from the troubled province of Aceh were
\nadvancing slowly on Sunday at an undisclosed location in
\nSwitzerland, sources linked to the talks said.<\/p>\n
\"There are big problems on the table and the discussions are
\nadvancing slowly,\" said the source, referring to new efforts in
\nSwitzerland to reach a peace deal ending the Free Aceh Movement's
\n(GAM) 25-year rebel war for independence.<\/p>\n
\"I don't expect any spectacular results from this meeting,
\nmaybe an improvement in communication between the two parties,\"
\nsaid the source, who did not want to be identified, as quoted by
\nAFP.<\/p>\n
Andy Andrea, spokesman for the Geneva-based Henry Dunant
\nCenter for Humanitarian Dialogue which was organizing the talks,
\nsaid negotiations began early Sunday and that a statement would
\nbe released later in the day.<\/p>\n
Prospects for a breakthrough in the talks have been clouded by
\nfresh violence in the province, where GAM has been fighting for
\nindependence from Indonesia since 1976.<\/p>\n
The group, whose leadership is in exile in Sweden, threatened
\nto boycott the talks after Indonesian troops killed their
\nmilitary commander Abdullah Syafe'i during a raid on a jungle
\nhideout on Jan. 22.<\/p>\n
In fresh clashes on Friday, soldiers raided another suspected
\nguerrilla hideout in Aceh and arrested two rebels.<\/p>\n
The Dunant Center, which has been involved since 2000 in
\nnumerous unsuccessful attempts to broker a lasting peace deal in
\nAceh, hosted a previous round of peace talks in Geneva in July
\n2001, which resulted in a short-lived cease-fire.<\/p>\n
At the time the Indonesian delegation suspended the Security
\nJoint Committee and dissolved the Humanitarian Action Joint
\nCommittee.<\/p>\n
Sources said this weekend's meeting was largely aimed at
\nrestoring confidence between the two sides and was unlikely to
\naddress the issue of a new cease-fire.<\/p>\n
Despite the ongoing peace efforts, the violent conflict has
\nshown no sign of abating in Aceh, a staunchly Muslim province on
\nthe northern tip of Sumatra island.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people have been killed since Aceh was declared a
\nmilitary operation area in 1988 and Indonesian troops were
\ndeployed to quash the separatist movement.<\/p>\n
Last year Jakarta granted Aceh greater self-rule and a larger
\nshare of the revenue from its substantial oil and gas reserves.
\nIt also allowed the province to adopt Islamic law, but insisted
\nit would not allow independence.<\/p>\n
Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said recently the
\nGAM delegation would be led by Malik Mahmud while the Indonesian
\ndelegation by Wiryono Sastrowardoyo, former Indonesian ambassador
\nto Australia.<\/p>\n
Andrea said he was happy that the two sides were still willing
\nto meet with each other although violence still continued.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh expressed hope on
\nSaturday that the dialog between the Indonesian government and
\nGAM would lead to a peaceful settlement of the Aceh problem.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly hope the dialog can produce a peaceful solution
\nto the Aceh conflict,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped all parties could create a more peaceful and
\nconducive atmosphere as well as reduce violence.<\/p>\n
He said the provincial administration supported the dialog.<\/p>\n
Regarding the failure of the planned dialog between the
\nprovincial administration and GAM, Puteh said that the dialog was
\nactually not canceled, but since it was held in Aceh it would be
\nheld under the auspices of the provincial administration.<\/p>\n
It was later decided that it would be continued at a national
\nlevel and be held abroad, he said.<\/p>\n
\"For the Aceh provincial administration the question of where
\nthe dialog will be held is not important. What is important is
\nthat the problem can be solved immediately,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked if the dialog might be held abroad and at home, Puteh
\nsaid: \"I don't think so. But we are ready if it will be placed
\nagain in the hands of the provincial administration.\"<\/p>",
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