Acehnese plead for peace<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
More Acehnese people expressed hope on Wednesday that the
\ngovernment would continue the peace process in the conflict-torn
\nprovince, saying the use of military force would cause further
\ncasualties among civilians.<\/p>\n
No less than 55 Acehnese people, including religious leaders
\nand rights activists, continued their campaign in Jakarta to push
\nthe government to keep the peace process on track. They claimed
\nto have raised the same demand with Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
The Aceh people reminded President Megawati Soekarnoputri of
\nher pre-election commitment to avoid the use of violence in the
\nprovince in addressing the 26-year conflict, saying it would only
\ncreate fresh bloodshed and not peace.<\/p>\n
The group originally came here to meet the President, but the
\nhead of state was "very busy with state duties". Instead they
\nconveyed their demand to a number of foreign ambassadors here as
\nwell as to People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
Among the envoys were Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce of the U.S.
\nand Ambassador Yutaka Iimura of Japan. Also present were
\nrepresentatives from European Union and the World Bank. All the
\ncountries and organizations cochair the Tokyo Preparatory Meeting
\nfor Aceh Reconstruction and Rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
Umam Hamid, a lecturer of the Banda Aceh-based Syiah Kuala
\nUniversity and the spokesman for the group, said that they wished
\nthe President would reconsider her decision to launch a military
\noperation in the province and urged both warring parties to
\nreturn to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
They feared that war in Aceh would create a "lost generation"
\namong Acehnese children.<\/p>\n
"Ibu Megawati had once promised that she would not allow any
\nbloodshed in Aceh once she was elected President. We believe that
\nshe still carries that in her heart, and we are here to support
\nher in the spirit of brotherhood," Umam said, referring to
\nMegawati's political speech before her supporters on July, 28,
\n1999, weeks after her Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan) won the largest vote in the 1999 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, the Acehnese leaders met Assembly Speaker
\nAmien Rais to convey their message of peace.<\/p>\n
Amien said that Aceh's problems must be resolved through
\npeaceful dialog.<\/p>\n
According to the representatives of the Acehnese people, the
\nsituation in the province has worsened. Hope for a peaceful
\nresolution to the conflict in Aceh through the Cessation of
\nHostilities Agreement (COHA) is fading in the face of imminent
\nwarfare.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar meanwhile said on
\nWednesday that humanitarian aid, law enforcement, and empowerment
\nof the local administration would also be carried out with the
\naim of restoring security in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
He said that the three programs would be carried out
\nintegrally and simultaneously.<\/p>\n
"If those three operations fail to restore security in Aceh,
\nthen an operation to restore security will be taken," Da'i said
\nat a hearing with House of Representatives Commission I for
\ndefense and foreign affairs here.<\/p>\n
Legislators had shown support for a contingency plan for Aceh
\nshould peace talks fail.<\/p>\n
Separately, U.S. Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce expressed regret
\nover the government's plan to launch a military operation in
\nAceh, but he underlined that the problem was a domestic one.<\/p>\n
"We are very disturbed that the peace process may be breaking
\ndown. Military action is a last resort, and every possible venue
\nmust be exhausted before deciding on a military option," Boyce
\ntold a press conference on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"I do not think that anybody welcomes the possible renewed
\nmilitary activity in the province," he remarked.<\/p>\n
He further underlined that Washington continued to lend
\nsupport for the peace process in Aceh and was ready to facilitate
\nany possible peace solution in the province, should they be asked
\nto do so by Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"The U.S. recognizes and respects that Aceh is a domestic
\nissue of Indonesia, one in which I do not think Indonesia
\nwelcomes too much international involvement," Boyce said.<\/p>\n
Regarding the continuation of the trust fund to rebuild Aceh,
\nas was pledged in the Tokyo meeting last year, Boyce said that
\nthe commitment stands and would continue as soon as peace returns
\nto the province.<\/p>\n
"The commitment stands even with the problems along the way,
\nwe are ready to come back at an appropriate time," the ambassador
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehnese-plead-for-peace-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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