Govt, GAM agree to meet<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Despite the escalating tension in Aceh, both the government and
\nthe Free Aceh Movement (GAM) expressed their commitment to
\nsalvaging the peace process.<\/p>\n
They signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) with
\nthe mediation of the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) in Geneva,
\nSwitzerland on Dec. 9, 2002.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has been trying to emphasize peaceful dialogs as a top
\npriority to end the decades-long conflict that has killed more
\nthan 12,000 Acehnese people and displaced hundreds of thousands
\nof others, but is talking tough if certain demands are not met.<\/p>\n
Following a hearing with a number of senior government
\nofficials here on Thursday, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said
\nIndonesia would militarily crush the separatist movement only if
\nthe peaceful method that the government was trying failed.<\/p>\n
He said he had high hopes for the planned Joint Council
\nmeeting, in which the government and GAM would discuss ways of
\nsalvaging the peace agreement.<\/p>\n
They are scheduled to hold the Joint Council, likely, in
\nTokyo, on April 25, to evaluate the COHA implementation and
\nviolations of it.<\/p>\n
He said the House leadership backed the proposed military
\noperation as a last resort.<\/p>\n
"If peaceful dialog fails to settle the problem and GAM
\ninsists on campaigning for independence, the government must take
\nstern measures," said Akbar, also chairman of Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
During the press conference, Akbar was accompanied by House
\ndeputy speaker Tosari Widjaja, legislators Ishak Latuconsina,
\nIbrahim Ambong, Ahmad Farhan Hamid and Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Also attending the closed-door meeting were nine other
\nministers, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto,
\nand National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.<\/p>\n
The government and the House agreed to launch the military
\noperation only if GAM remained noncommittal on special autonomy
\nfor Aceh, continued to demand independence, refused to lay down
\nits weapons and continued to tax the people.<\/p>\n
Susilo concurred and said the military operation would be
\ntaken as a last resort.<\/p>\n
"We will assess whether or not the situation is still
\nconducive to dialog ... However, based on existing laws a
\nmilitary operation is allowed," he added.<\/p>\n
Endriartono confirmed that the Joint Council meeting with the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) would likely take place in Tokyo on
\nApril 25.<\/p>\n
"We believe that the meeting will be held in Tokyo on April 25
\nbut it is still being discussed," he said.<\/p>\n
Tokyo has been mentioned as a neutral venue.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, plans were being readied in the event that a
\nmilitary offensive was to take place.<\/p>\n
Da'i Bachtiar said he would deploy more troops and change the
\nrole of the Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in Aceh back into a
\ncombat force before the military operation was launched, in a
\nreference to the COHA which calls for Brimob to assume regular
\npolice duties and withdraw to bases.<\/p>\n
"We will be waiting for the government's decision after the
\nJoint Council meeting," he remarked.<\/p>\n
The situation in the province deteriorated significantly in
\nthe last ten days as rebels and security personnel have been
\ninvolved in gun battles in several areas of the province.<\/p>\n
Most villages in North Aceh regency were silent shortly after
\ndusk as the local military and the police have intensified their
\npatrols and sweeps of the area to arrest rebels who have
\nreportedly been collecting taxes from residents.<\/p>\n
Giving an interview with The Jakarta Post in a remote village
\nin North Aceh, GAM spokesman Teungku Sofyan Dawod expressed GAM's
\ncommitment to pursue peace talks to save the COHA.<\/p>\n
"Only with peaceful negotiations, will the Aceh question be
\nresolved without casualties to GAM, the military, the police or
\nthe people. We're committed to the Cessation of Hostilities
\nAgreement," he said.<\/p>\n
Sofyan declined to go into detail on what steps would need to
\nbe taken or what things needed changing, but said GAM would send
\nits delegates to the Joint Council meeting.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment on the planned military operation, Sofyan
\nsaid it would be a serious violation and Indonesia should be
\ngiven harsh sanctions.<\/p>\n
He insisted that GAM had prepared for the worst, including a
\nmilitary operation, should the peace deal collapse.<\/p>\n
According to him, both HDC and the Joint Security Council it
\nset up have played an important role in helping everyone abide by
\nCOHA.<\/p>\n
Separately, Sayed Muksin, chairman of Commission A at the Aceh
\nprovincial legislature, criticized the HDC and claimed they had
\ntaken GAM's side during the implementation of COHA over the last
\nseveral months.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with government officials
\nin Banda Aceh on Friday, Sayed believed that the situation was
\ngetting worse in the province because of HDC's failure to press
\nGAM to comply with COHA.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-gam-agree-to-meet-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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