Govt warns GAM of total breakdown in peace process<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government warned the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) of
\na total breakdown in the peace deal as both sides failed to build
\nmutual confidence in implementing the cessation of hostilities
\nagreement they signed two months ago to end 26 years of
\nhostility.<\/p>\n
Accusing GAM of disseminating lies among the people,
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono said the government was preparing a contingency
\nplan if the cessation of hostilities agreement that was signed in
\nGeneva on Dec. 9, 2002, fell apart.<\/p>\n
\"The government cannot say the deal has failed but it will
\nrequire a total conversion (by both sides) to save the peace
\nagreement,\" he said after a meeting with President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri at the Presidential Palace here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Susilo, who returned from a three-day visit to Aceh on
\nWednesday, accused the separatist rebels of spreading the lie
\namong the Acehnese that the peace deal would end with a
\nreferendum for independence.<\/p>\n
\"If we see that the agreement is failing, of course we will
\ntake contingency steps to maintain national unity,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Since the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement,
\nboth the rebels and the military have been found to have violated
\nthe deal.<\/p>\n
The Joint Security Committee (JSC), a tripartite body
\nsupervising the peace deal, recently declared that GAM had
\ncommitted two very serious violations of the agreement, while the
\nmilitary had committed a minor violation. In addition, there has
\nbeen an increase in the number of complaints of extortion by both
\nrebels and security personnel of mining companies, traders,
\nbusinesspeople and villagers.<\/p>\n
Susilo also said the five-month demilitarization process was a
\ncrucial period for GAM to show its commitment to the peace deal.<\/p>\n
\"We urge GAM to truly lay down its weapons, stop violating the
\nagreement and halt its political and military activities,\" the
\nminister said.<\/p>\n
According to the peace agreement, during the demilitarization
\nprocess GAM is to lay down its arms and store them in secret
\nlocations supervised by the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), while the
\nmilitary pulls back its soldiers from the province in phases.<\/p>\n
The police are required to redeploy their Mobile Brigade
\npersonnel as a defensive force rather than a combat force.<\/p>\n
In Banda Aceh, GAM deputy prime minister Malik Mahmud said GAM
\nwas committed to complying with the cessation of hostilities
\nagreement and that rebels were laying down their weapons as part
\nof the demilitarization process.<\/p>\n
He called on Jakarta to honor the peace agreement \"and stop
\nmaking statements that are contrary to the agreement\".<\/p>\n
According to the peace agreement facilitated by the Geneva-
\nbased HDC, the Acehnese people, represented by their political
\nleaders, including GAM, will hold an all-inclusive dialog to
\nbegin building a democratic administration, including preparing
\nfor fair and democratic gubernatorial and regental elections.<\/p>\n
HDC chief David Gorman said the demilitarization process had
\nyet to begin as the two side were still discussing the mechanisms
\nfor storing GAM's weapons and for the redeployment of security
\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
Gorman said the parties were currently discussing credible
\nmeasures to ensure that GAM rebels were laying down their arms.<\/p>\n
He said GAM had to be prepared for HDC inspections to
\nguarantee the rebels were not retaking the weapons they had
\nsurrendered.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-warns-gam-of-total-breakdown-in-peace-process-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}