After the truce, what?<\/p>\n
The \"humanitarian pause\" agreed upon in Aceh looks
\nincreasingly more like an opportunity for both sides in the
\nconflict -- the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the separatist Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) -- to bide their time for the inevitable ugly
\nconfrontation. The three-month agreement, which expired on Aug.
\n31, has done little to contain the violence. Instead, both sides
\nhave used the greater part of the lull afforded by the agreement
\nto beef up their personnel and weaponry, and consolidate their
\npositions.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, one is left to wonder what was the
\nobjective in entering into this agreement in the first place, and
\nwhat is the objective now in extending the humanitarian pause? If
\nreal peace is the ultimate goal of the truce agreement, we have
\nseen no signs either side wishing to start negotiations.<\/p>\n
The truce may have allowed some humanitarian programs to be
\nimplemented in Aceh to alleviate the people's suffering, even as
\nthe fighting continued. Some people may argue inconceivably that
\nthe violence would have been worse had it not been for the
\nhumanitarian pause; they will say the exercise has not been a
\ntotal waste. That, however, is hardly comforting for the people
\nof Aceh, who continue to live in uncertainty and fear, now even
\nmore so than before, while the people in Jakarta figure out what
\nto do next after extending the truce agreement.<\/p>\n
In the absence of any formal negotiations, the government
\ndecided in Jakarta over the weekend to unilaterally extend the
\nhumanitarian pause for one month, setting new, tougher, terms for
\nGAM to comply with for a longer extension. The offer still
\nrevolves around the humanitarian pause and its implementation.<\/p>\n
There are no indications the government will take the matter
\nfurther than this. Even if GAM agrees to the offer, the
\nhumanitarian pause likely will be treated by both sides the way
\nit has been treated for the last three months: an opportunity to
\nbuy even more time to consolidate.<\/p>\n
How long the two sides can keep up with this waiting game is
\nanybody's guess. But before an ugly confrontation erupts, the
\ngovernment should use the extension of the humanitarian pause to
\nopen negotiations with GAM, as well as other groups in Aceh, to
\nexplore the possibility of real peace in the province.<\/p>\n
The humanitarian pause agreement was a major breakthrough when
\nit was signed by representatives of Jakarta and GAM in Geneva in
\nMay. It was the first real attempt on the part of the government
\nto restore peace in Aceh. The government may have come under fire
\nfrom politicians in Jakarta for giving GAM an international
\nplatform, but it was a realistic step to take to break the
\nimpasse, and probably the only step the government could have
\nmade. Whether we like it or not, GAM is a force to be reckoned
\nwith -- with real organization and real supporters and
\nsympathizers -- and no peace can be secured in Aceh without its
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
After making the courageous decision to recognize GAM's
\nexistence through the signing of the agreement, however, the
\ngovernment failed to follow through effectively. In fact, the
\ngovernment seems to be at a total loss as to what it should do
\nnow. The best it could come up with to date is to extend the
\nhumanitarian pause to buy more time, something GAM will happily
\naccept.<\/p>\n
At first glance, negotiations look out of the question given
\nthe government and GAM's irreconcilable positions. Jakarta has
\nruled out independence as an option, while GAM, by its very name
\nand definition, is a movement for an independent state.<\/p>\n
But that is precisely the purpose of negotiations: to bridge
\nthe gap and explore a middle ground acceptable to both sides.
\nMore than just buying time to delay an inevitable armed
\nconfrontation, negotiations offer a chance for a peaceful
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
That middle ground is essentially not that difficult to
\nenvisage. Having recognized GAM's existence, the government
\nshould move one step further by offering GAM the opportunity to
\nbecome a regional political party which could fight for its
\nindependence cause through the democratic process of general
\nelections. In return, GAM should agree to surrender its weapons.
\nBallots, rather than bullets, should determine the fate of Aceh,
\nwhatever that fate may be.<\/p>\n
All it takes is for the government and GAM to show the
\npolitical will to enter into negotiations; and the humanitarian
\npause would be a good time to start the process.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/after-the-truce-what-1447893297",
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