Aiming for deliverable pledges in Aceh<\/p>\n
Thursday's shooting of a well-known rector in Aceh's capital
\nadds an even gloomier prospect to what the planned weekend
\npresidential visit to the province could achieve. Dr. Rizal
\nSukma, Director of Studies at the Centre for Strategic
\nInternational Studies, Jakarta, writes about what could be done.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many expect that the visit by President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri to war-torn Aceh province will soon solve the
\nproblems there. At the same time, many also doubt that such
\nexpectations can be met. Of course, the visit will not bring an
\nimmediate end to the protracted conflict in the region. However,
\nthe visit should be seen and understood as an initial step by her
\ngovernment to find a comprehensive solution to the conflict. As
\nsuch, the visit is critically important for the overall conflict-
\nresolution process. It will serve as a barometer with which
\nJakarta's intention and ability to solve the problem will be
\nmeasured, by both the domestic and international community.<\/p>\n
It is important, therefore, that President Megawati's visit to
\nAceh should serve as the light at the end of the tunnel. This
\nshould begin with recognition on her part that the situation in
\nAceh is indeed critical and needs both serious attention and
\nimmediate action to defuse the tension. Therefore, the visit
\nshould be used not only to demonstrate a government-renewed
\ncommitment to solve the problem. As the Acehnese are now fed up
\nwith Jakarta's normative and deceptive rhetoric, such renewed
\ncommitment must also be accompanied by a \"policy package\",
\ndetailing concrete measures by which the problem will be solved.<\/p>\n
President Megawati should not give the impression that her
\nvisit is no different to those of two previous presidents, B.J.
\nHabibie and Abdurrahman Wahid. The visit should not be seen by
\nthe Acehnese as another act of empty rhetoric by Jakarta. Nor
\nshould she promise things that the government would not be able
\nto deliver.<\/p>\n
For example, there is no need for the President to promise any
\nlarge, but irrelevant, development projects such as the
\nconstruction of railways, the development of the province's
\nSabang resort island, or other mega projects. Those were offered
\nby both Habibie and Abdurrahman, and they both failed to deliver.
\nIn this regard, the duration of the visit, whether several hours
\nor several days, is not important. What is important is how she
\nis going to use the visit as an event to unveil her government's
\npolicies and programs that will regain Acehnese trust and
\nconfidence.<\/p>\n
There are a number of important issues that the President
\nneeds to address. First, she should once again apologize to the
\nAcehnese on behalf of the government for past mistakes and
\natrocities committed by Jakarta. Second, along those lines, she
\nshould also announce that her government, one or two months after
\nthe visit, will start processing cases of human rights violations
\nduring the military operations period and beyond. Third, the
\nPresident should declare the government's commitment to find a
\npolitical settlement through dialog and negotiation.<\/p>\n
The problem in Aceh, as demonstrated in the past, can no
\nlonger be solved by military means alone. However, at the same
\ntime, the President should also emphasize the need to maintain
\nlaw and order in a conflict-ridden area like Aceh. To minimize
\npossible abuses, she could also announce that the government
\nwould provide security for non-government organizations to carry
\nout their humanitarian and non-violent advocacy activities in the
\nprovince. Fourth, she could also announce that the government
\nwould, at a specific date, start the reconstruction and
\nrehabilitation program in Aceh. Fifth, and more importantly, she
\ncould announce that she would evaluate Presidential Decree No.
\n4\/2001 on the restoring of order in Aceh, with a view to revising
\nit.<\/p>\n
The list is certainly indicative, but it does address key
\nconcerns of both the domestic and international community. Within
\nthat context, Indonesia should not be overly cautious in
\nwelcoming the support of the regional and international
\ncommunity. Concern about a possible internationalization of the
\nissue, especially in the sense that the problem becomes an issue
\nfor the United Nations, is perfectly legitimate in this regard.
\nHowever, if the conflict drags on, with a significant amount of
\nviolence and abuse, Indonesia cannot avoid internationalization
\nof the problem in the sense that it would become a major concern
\nof both state and non-state actors.<\/p>\n
If that were to happen, it is not unlikely that an East Timor
\nscenario would develop in Aceh. The visit by President Megawati
\nto the province can, and should, be geared towards preventing
\njust that.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aiming-for-deliverable-pledges-in-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}