From Aceh to Helsinki: A message for Jakarta<\/p>\n
Aboeprijadi Santoso, Helsinki<\/p>\n
The third round of the Helsinki negotiations between the
\nIndonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to find \"a
\ncomprehensive and permanent solution with dignity for all\" was
\njust concluded with new hope for a peaceful breakthrough. So,
\nwhat do we make of this newfound hope?<\/p>\n
\"It's a breakthrough in a certain sense,\" Martti Ahtisaari,
\nFinland's former president who facilitated the talks, declared as
\nthe meetings wrapped up. They achieved what he called \"seven
\npoints of understanding\".<\/p>\n
Ahtisaari, who leads the peace mediator Crisis Management
\nInitiative (CMI), however, warned that, \"Security on the ground
\nis very important. In whatever country, people want to be treated
\nfairly by the (security forces) and the courts. If those two can
\nbe relied on, people can go on with their daily lives and
\nbusiness,\" said the man who has been involved in peace
\nnegotiations all over the world, from Namibia to South Africa to
\nKosovo and now Aceh.<\/p>\n
Every aspect of the peace prospects in Aceh ultimately depend
\non the parties themselves. Now, despite rhetoric of progress and
\noptimism coming from both Jakarta and GAM delegates, most of the
\n\"points of understanding\" are things that need to be worked on to
\nbe accomplished before the next round on May 26.<\/p>\n
However, Ahtisaari's integrated package approach (\"nothing is
\nagreed until everything is agreed\") means that the parties can
\nhide whatever basic assumptions, agreements and disagreements
\nthey have, until they find the right concepts and wording for the
\nfinal agreement. This lack of transparency is an obvious sign of
\nthe sensitivities involved. Thus, as Ahtisaari himself has
\nreminded us, it is important to look at what is being said and
\nalso what is not being said. Only when the sensitivities become
\napparent, real progress can be measured.<\/p>\n
Progress, coupled with difficulties, seems apparent on, at
\nleast, the issues of self-government, monitoring and political
\nparticipation.<\/p>\n
First, as the issues of independence and special autonomy are
\nremoved, negotiations can now proceed to define what the CMI, in
\nits release, called \"the self-government of the province of Aceh
\nwithin the Republic of Indonesia\" is all about. While GAM seemed
\ncautious, but not in disagreement, Ahtisaari and Indonesia's
\nchief-delegate Hamid Awaluddin have made it clear that there will
\nbe local elections for Aceh according to Indonesian laws and will
\nbe monitored by a third party. For Indonesia, this is part of her
\nconstitutional process and for GAM it is seen as a means to
\nmeasure and promote democratization in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Since the issue of \"independence\" remains a taboo subject and
\na \"referendum\" remains a nightmare scenario for Indonesia,
\n\"special autonomy\" is identical to the status quo of \"rapes and
\nkillings\" to GAM leaders. Once all these are removed from the
\ntable, the results can be considerable.<\/p>\n
Second, both sides have agreed to a monitoring process, even
\nif it may appear as if GAM here has gained more on that point.
\nSince the implementation of the agreement will be a process that
\nwould cover elections and aspects of public life, it inevitably
\nincludes, if implicit, a cease-fire, which Jakarta has rejected.
\nThe monitoring will be \"a civilian mission (of regional
\nassociations) and there is no mention of foreign troops\".<\/p>\n
The involvement of a \"foreign group\" means a greater guarantee
\nfor the implementation of the agreement, although it would also
\nmean that the Aceh issue would remain on the international scene,
\nwhich GAM would welcome. Hamid has confirmed that Indonesia
\nagreed and would approach ASEAN groups about taking part in the
\nmonitoring.<\/p>\n
Third, little seems to have been agreed upon as yet on
\npolitical participation, but as a few legal aspects need to be
\nresolved, an agreement at this point may not be far away. Hamid
\nhas confirmed that the Pilkada (local-chief elections) for
\nconflict areas, including Aceh will be postponed and a source
\nclose to GAM believes that Hamid's team will do its best to
\naccommodate the need for a local party.<\/p>\n
The most thorny issue, however, remains the security
\narrangement. Various delegates recognize that it is all too often
\ndifficult to control the violent behavior by the Indonesian
\nsecurity apparatuses, just as GAM's units have often been
\ninvolved in violence and kidnapping. Any mediator, as Ahtisaari
\nis, can only appeal to both sides' commitments to restrain their
\narmed forces because local security remains in the hands of those
\nin charge.<\/p>\n
In short, progress has been made, even if it is not
\nimmediately apparent. And the stakes are very high. For GAM, a
\nfailure in Helsinki would means that they have to continue a very
\ncostly guerrilla warfare, which would jeopardize whatever
\ncredibility they have among the Acehnese. On the other hand, a
\nHelsinki success will enhance both the space and capacity of the
\nAcehnese to develop their own political and economic system,
\nalbeit within Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Clearly, both sides want to win the Acehnese hearts and minds.
\nJakarta will try by reconstructing post-tsunami Aceh. GAM has, in
\neffect, forced Jakarta via Helsinki to fulfill its promise. As
\none GAM delegate put it, \"All (post-Soeharto) presidents, from
\nHabibie to Gus Dur to Megawati said 'you can have everything
\nexcept independence'. Now we want everything except
\nindependence\".<\/p>\n
The challenge for Jakarta is perhaps even bigger. If GAM
\nleader Hasan Di Tiro is said to have given blessing to his
\ndelegates, it is the turn of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nto strongly support his team despite public opposition at home
\nagainst the Helsinki process. After all, the pressure is not only
\nfrom the impact of the tsunami, but all of Acehnese civil
\nsociety, who collectively demand change. The military solution is
\nneither a solution nor is it now acceptable. The international
\ncommunity now expects changes led by a president who symbolizes
\nIndonesia's new democracy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia (under Megawati) unilaterally canceled its peace
\nagreement with GAM in 2003 and launched massive military
\noperation. President Susilo realizes that the military solution
\nalone could not end the prolonged conflict. Will Indonesia, this
\ntime, be able to give peace to the people of Aceh?<\/p>\n
The writer is a journalist with Radio Netherlands.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/from-aceh-to-helsinki-a-message-for-jakarta-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }