Govt-GAM dialog should have no deadline: HDC<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
A visiting director of the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Center
\n(HDC), a mediator of peace talks between the Indonesian
\ngovernment and the secessionist Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
\ncriticized the government's decision to set a deadline for a
\ndialog with the movement.<\/p>\n
\"It's not a good idea to set a deadline for a dialog,\" Martin
\nGriffiths said at the end of his three-day visit to the strife-
\ntorn province here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Griffiths was apparently referring to the statement from the
\ngovernment, that demanded GAM accept the autonomy law for Aceh by
\nDecember as a prerequisite for dialog.<\/p>\n
Some representatives of GAM in Aceh, nevertheless, have said
\nthat GAM would accept the law provided that there were some
\nrevisions made to it, especially on direct ballots to elect local
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
According to Griffiths, negotiation needed passion and it
\nshould not be bound by time limits. He noted that HDC's
\ntwo-and-a-half year role in facilitating peace talks between the
\ngovernment and GAM was not a long period.<\/p>\n
\"Compared to our activities in other countries, our time here
\nis still short,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Griffiths commended the commitment of both the
\ngovernment and GAM to reach an agreement, and to do so with all
\nspeed. \"But it needs courage. Let's pray together for both
\nsides,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Griffiths emphasized that the most important thing for the
\nopposing camps would be how they could reach an agreement to stop
\nviolence before the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan, which
\nwould begin early November.<\/p>\n
He said that the next dialog should focus on a peace agreement
\nand determine sanctions for those who committed violations.
\nAccording to him, one effective punishment would be in the form
\nof publication in the mass media.<\/p>\n
He said there should be an independent monitoring team to
\nassess the result of any agreement reached between GAM and
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
He said that during his three-day visit in Aceh he met
\nrepresentatives of GAM, government officials, and local community
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
After meeting leaders in Aceh, Griffiths flew to Jakarta on
\nSaturday to see government officials and then would go to
\nStockholm on Monday to meet with GAM leaders.<\/p>\n
\"I want to tell you that in the past eight weeks there has
\nbeen intensive negotiation between the government of Indonesia
\nand GAM on details of the peace agreement, based on a cessation
\nof hostilities,\" Griffiths said.<\/p>\n
In fact, the government and GAM have signed a number of
\nagreements to end violence in Aceh. Nevertheless, fatalities
\nremain a common sight in Aceh. The latest was the finding of six
\nbodies by Indonesian red cross volunteers in separate locations
\nin the province.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-gam-dialog-should-have-no-deadline-hdc-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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