Govt, GAM agree on more talks<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Negotiators from the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) wound up two days of talks in Helsinki on Saturday
\nwithout a concrete result on how to end the decades-long war in
\nAceh, but pledged to meet again soon to seek a peace deal.<\/p>\n
However, just hours before the leaders decided to agree on
\nanother round of negotiations, the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nkilled four GAM rebels in a skirmish in an Aceh village, a move
\nthat could potentially threaten any new peace talks.<\/p>\n
Government officials and exiled leaders of GAM, meeting for
\nthe first time in nearly two years, said their Finnish mediator
\nCrisis Management Initiative would convene another meeting "in
\nthe near future" to discuss what an Indonesian minister called "a
\ncomprehensive peace settlement".<\/p>\n
The delegations emerged from talks focusing on the
\nhumanitarian crisis in Aceh, where approximately 230,000 people
\nwere killed in the Dec. 26 tidal wave, saying the next round of
\ntalks would deal with their major political differences.<\/p>\n
"We have an in-principle agreement to meet again in the near
\nfuture to discuss a comprehensive peace settlement under the
\numbrella of self-autonomy," State Minister of Communications and
\nInformation Sofyan Djalil was quoted by Reuters.<\/p>\n
From Helsinki, GAM political official Mohammed Nur Djuli
\nrefused to describe the meeting as deadlocked, only saying that
\n"both parties have agreed to meet in another meeting some time
\nnext month."<\/p>\n
"There were some differences (of views) between the two
\ndelegations. Of course, it was just an informal meeting aimed at
\nexploring common ground before we move forward to firmer talks,"
\nMohammed told The Jakarta Post by phone from Helsinki on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Mohammed acknowledged that the two sides had come up with
\ntheir own concepts of dialog during the meeting. The GAM
\ndelegation insisted on a formal implementation of a cease-fire to
\nfacilitate humanitarian relief operation in Aceh.<\/p>\n
"Any kind of political talks can be held in another meeting,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said that the Indonesian government delegation had made
\nseveral offers to end the conflict in Aceh, including amnesty for
\nGAM members, the actual implementation of the special autonomy
\nlaw for Aceh and also an economic compensation package.<\/p>\n
"For sure, it would be improper for us to drop the offers. So
\nwe responded by saying that we would study the offers first. But,
\nagain, it was not an agreement," said Mohammed, who now resides
\nin Malaysia and was also active during the previous peace talks
\nin Tokyo, which collapsed in 2003, and prompted the government to
\nimpose martial law in Aceh, allowing the TNI to launch its
\nlargest offensive ever against the GAM rebels.<\/p>\n
He said that the CMI would arrange the second meeting, likely
\nto take place again in Helsinki on Feb. 21.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Salim Said said that although no formal
\nagreement was reached, the fact that GAM was willing to pursue
\nmore talks in the future was, in itself, a breakthrough.<\/p>\n
"Past negotiations between the Indonesian government and GAM
\nsimply fizzled out without reaching any agreement, however
\ninformal. What the Helsinki talks have achieved is a success," he
\ntold The Post.<\/p>\n
He said that with this new development, the TNI should
\nrestrain itself from pressing GAM further against the wall.<\/p>\n
"Continuing offensives against GAM must be put to a halt so
\nthat they will not have an excuse to renege on their pledge in
\nthe future. Such an offensive is also unnecessary, as GAM is
\ncurrently under tremendous pressure from the international
\ncommunity to not hamper the relief efforts," he said.<\/p>\n
Prominent Acehnese academic Hasballah M. Saad said: "This is
\npositive progress and must be appreciated by both sides."<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-gam-agree-on-more-talks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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