Govt, Aceh rebels agree to keep on talking peace<\/p>\n
Nina Larson, Agence France-Presse, Helsinki<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government and Aceh separatists on Saturday
\nagreed to hold a fourth round of peace talks next month, saying
\nthe third round ended on a \"constructive note\", the Finnish hosts
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The talks, which were wrapped up a day ahead of schedule, were
\naimed at ending a drawn-out conflict that has left more than
\n12,000 people dead.<\/p>\n
\"The negotiations have been held in a positive and
\nconstructive atmosphere,\" said former Finnish president Martti
\nAhtisaari, the mediator in the talks.<\/p>\n
The new round of talks will take place from May 26 to May 31,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The two sides have agreed to continue seeking \"a permanent and
\ncomprehensive solution with dignity for all\" to the conflict,
\nAhtisaari said.<\/p>\n
They are willing to define a local administrative framework
\nand explore the possibility of reform involving local elections.<\/p>\n
They would also continue to talk about an amnesty for rebels,
\nand combat corruption as well as review the allocation of revenue
\nbetween the central government and Aceh.<\/p>\n
Both sides also welcomed a future role for regional
\norganizations in monitoring commitments made by both sides and
\npromised to \"do their utmost to restrain their security forces in
\nthe field during the negotiating process\".<\/p>\n
The rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) launched their
\ncampaign for independence in 1976, accusing the central
\ngovernment of plundering the region's resources.<\/p>\n
When government and GAM delegations met for an initial round
\nof Helsinki talks in January it was the first time they had stood
\nface-to-face since May 2003, when the government declared martial
\nlaw and launched a major military offensive in the province.<\/p>\n
The renewed efforts to reach a peaceful solution were prompted
\nby a need for international aid to reach the province worst hit
\nby the Dec. 26 tsunamis. More than 126,000 people died in Aceh
\nalone.<\/p>\n
During the third round of Helsinki talks, which began on
\nTuesday, the two delegations discussed a number of issues
\nincluding how to implement self-governance in Aceh, the
\nreintegration of GAM into civil society and their possible
\npolitical participation, economic issues, security and
\ninternational monitoring of the situation in the region.<\/p>\n
The government on Friday indicated that it had no problem with
\nat least some of GAM's suggestions, including issues related to
\nmanagement of the region's rich natural resources.<\/p>\n
The cooperative mood in Helsinki has been clouded by continued
\nfighting on the ground in Aceh and by the Indonesian Military's
\ndecision on Thursday to send another 3,000 troops into the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the military, which has admitted to killing more
\nthan 260 rebels since the tsunami, said it had seized a large
\ncache of ammunition and shot dead a rebel in Aceh Besar district.<\/p>\n
While experts expressed optimism this week that the talks
\nappeared to be heading in the right direction, they insisted that
\nthe dialog needs to be extended beyond the negotiating table in
\nHelsinki.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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