Ahead of Ramadhan, return to dialog in Aceh<\/p>\n
Martin Griffiths, Director, Henri Dunant Center, Geneva<\/p>\n
On Nov. 19 the Indonesian government's martial law in Aceh
\nwill expire. There has been much debate and speculation on
\nwhether or not it will be extended. The Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nhas hinted that it will be, while experts, such as the former
\nhuman rights minister Hasballah M. Saad, has urged the government
\nto replace it with a civilian administration that could lead Aceh
\ninto the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
Other experts, such as Kusnanto Anggoro, have argued that as
\nthe military operation has been successful, it is time for
\nmartial law to give way to a transitional administration, thereby
\nproviding a political solution to the conflict.<\/p>\n
These options will be in the thoughts of many Indonesians
\nduring Ramadhan, the Muslim holy period of fasting, worship and
\ncontemplation. The TNI has apparently already ruled out a
\nceasefire with the Free Aceh Movement, but has promised to adjust
\nits offensive should it continue during the holy month.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, on Monday the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)
\ncalled on the troops of the government and the Free Aceh Movement
\nto cease fire during Ramadhan so that the Acehnese can fully
\nparticipate in this important period of the Islamic calendar.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the government's decision about martial law is crucial
\nfor the Acehnese people. It has now been nearly six months since
\nthe talks in May between the government and the Free Aceh
\nMovement, hosted by the Japanese government, failed to produce an
\nacceptable compromise, and the military operation began.<\/p>\n
There is no victory yet for either side, but more than 1,000
\npeople have been killed and over 600 schools burned to the
\nground. As in other zones of conflict, those most affected are
\ninnocent civilians, not the combatants.<\/p>\n
Everyday, the media reports more and more civilian casualties
\n-- a 90-year-old man killed in his home, a farmer shot while
\ntilling his fields, a mother and her daughter killed accidentally
\nduring a raid. The news is all too familiar to the Acehnese
\npeople who have been living with violence, death and destruction
\nfor more than 25 years. When will it end?<\/p>\n
No one can answer that now, but I have hope that one day the
\nAcehnese will live in peace. The late Sergio Vieira de Mello, one
\nof the small group of founders of the Henry Dunant Center for
\nHumanitarian Dialog, which brokered Aceh's brief and fragile
\npeace, demonstrated the values of democracy and dialog.<\/p>\n
In the places of his greatest achievement, his method was
\nabsurdly simple: He listened and then he advised. Nowhere was
\nthis clearer than in Iraq where, on the basis of careful
\ncanvassing of Iraqi views he played an influential role in
\nshaping the Coalition's approach to the Iraqi Governing Council.
\nGod forbid that this may have contributed to his death and those
\nof his colleagues.<\/p>\n
Learning from his example, perhaps now is the right time to
\nreturn to listening, dialog and peace for Aceh. This is something
\nmost Acehnese want. After all, they know what they are missing.
\nDuring the few months of their cease-fire, from December last
\nyear until May this year, no more then 50 people were killed --
\ncompared to 1,000 since. They could take their goods to market
\nand their children to school. They knew the value of a day,
\nstretching unbelievably to a week, even a month of peace. They
\nhad not experienced this for 10 years and have no idea if or when
\nthey will again.<\/p>\n
They also have no idea when they can once again speak out for
\ndialog and peace. The recent convictions of several former
\nnegotiators to the talks send a strong signal. Indeed, if the
\nconvictions are linked to the negotiators' activities they
\ncarried out as key actors in the peace process, then this will
\nhave negative implications for opportunities for dialog in Aceh
\nand elsewhere, dissuading individuals from coming forward to
\nnegotiate and resolve conflict through dialog.<\/p>\n
Until now, the war in Aceh has been popular in Indonesia. But,
\nas we have seen elsewhere, often this does not prevent public
\nsupport vanishing when war fails to bring peace and justice.
\nIndonesians have fought for independence from the Dutch, went to
\nthe streets to oust Soeharto, and are steadily building democracy
\nthroughout their country.<\/p>\n
As all Indonesians, Acehnese deserve attention and the
\nopportunities afforded by listening, dialog, and peace, not the
\nmistakes of war. Today, more than ever, the Acehnese know the
\nbitter difference.<\/p>",
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