Foreign participation in Aceh talks discussed<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The inclusion of foreigners in the planned monitoring commission
\nto ensure peace in the war-torn province of Aceh will be
\ndiscussed in the coming peace talks between the government and
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Monday
\nthat the concept to set up the monitoring commission had
\nbasically been agreed upon, but the details needed to be worked
\nout.<\/p>\n
\"As a concept, the establishment of a monitoring agency is
\naccepted by both sides,\" Hassan said, after a meeting with
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri at the Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the government agreed to include foreigners
\nas members of the commission, Hassan said: \"That has to be
\ndiscussed further.\"<\/p>\n
The Government and GAM are slated to engage in another round
\nof peace talks this month in Geneva, Switzerland, which again
\nwill be hosted by the Henry Dunant Center (HDC).<\/p>\n
The dialog is aimed at agreeing on the cessation of
\nhostilities and to maintain peace in the province as the next
\nstep to end the war.<\/p>\n
GAM has waged an independence struggle since 1976. The armed
\nconflict in Aceh has claimed more than 10,000 innocent lives,
\nespecially during the 10-year military operation that ended in
\n1998.<\/p>\n
The first round of dialogs was initiated by former president
\nAbdurrahman Wahid in 1999, which resulted in a humanitarian pause
\nin 2000. The cease-fire was not effective as the military accused
\nGAM of using the period to consolidate their troops across the
\nprovince, while GAM blamed the military's continuing operations
\nagainst the Acehnese for the failure.<\/p>\n
Wahid proposed the establishment of an independent monitoring
\ncommission to work toward peace, but was ousted in July 2001.<\/p>\n
\"To monitor the scheme, we need to establish a commission
\nconsisting of a third party,\" Hassan once remarked.<\/p>\n
The minister said on Monday that there had not yet been a date
\nset for the coming peace talks, but he underlined that it could
\ntake place in October.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know it won't be later than (the end of) October
\nbecause early in November we will enter the Muslim fasting
\nmonth,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
During the Ramadhan fasting month, Muslims are required to
\nexercise self restraint, including refraining from violence.<\/p>",
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