'It's about the lives of so many people'<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
It was difficult to reach Hamid Awaluddin after his appointment
\nas minister of justice and human rights in October last year.<\/p>\n
The new minister often \"disappeared\" from public view,
\nparticularly at weekends.<\/p>\n
Journalists were simply informed that Hamid had gone, for
\nexample, to Batam, Singapore or Malaysia. No official statements
\nwere ever made about his short, secretive trips.<\/p>\n
One of his close aides said that Hamid was in the midst of
\ntalking to the leadership of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which
\nwas in Stockholm, Sweden.<\/p>\n
Later in December, the government announced the appointment of
\nHamid as chief negotiator at the informal peace talks to end the
\narmed conflict in Aceh, which started in 1976.<\/p>\n
The former lecturer from Hasanuddin University's law school in
\nMakassar remained tight-lipped over his role in the peace talks,
\nwhich have successfully culminated in a peace deal.<\/p>\n
He also consistently refused to reveal the full content of the
\nagreement, although a draft of the truce was signed by both the
\ngovernment and GAM in July. Critics, and some legislators,
\naccused the government of not being transparent and open on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
Hamid explained that he had committed himself to an
\nunderstanding with GAM that neither side would publish the full
\ntext of the peace agreement before its signing on Aug. 15 in
\nHelsinki, Finland.<\/p>\n
\"If you want to make peace with others, you have to gain their
\ntrust and keep your promises,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hamid is not new to peace negotiations. He was involved
\nintensively in the talks to end the conflicts in Poso and Ambon in
\n2002, which were initiated by the then coordinating minister for
\npeople's welfare, Jusuf Kalla.<\/p>\n
After the successful conclusion of both peace talks, Kalla
\nasked Hamid and several others whom he trusted to try to end the
\nbloody conflict in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Both Kalla, a successful businessman-turned-politician, and
\nHamid, are Buginese. They became close while Hamid was still in
\nthe United States, where he lived for about 10 years while
\nworking and simultaneously completing his doctorate in law from
\nthe American University in Washington D.C.<\/p>\n
\"Each conflict has a different background and circumstances.
\nYou must have perseverance as negotiations take time and
\npatience ...,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
He said the first round of talks with the GAM leadership in
\nHelsinki, Finland, were \"thorough\".<\/p>\n
Hamid felt that his educational background helped him a lot in
\ndealing with such issues. In addition to his bachelor's degree
\nand doctorate in law, Hamid also holds a masters degree in
\nconflict resolution.<\/p>\n
\"That helped me a lot. I tried my best to understand the
\npsychology of the other side,\" the 45-year-old said.<\/p>\n
As the government's chief negotiator, Hamid's main task was to
\nmake sure that the negotiations ended in a satisfactory deal
\nfor both sides. It meant that the agreement had to be able to
\naccommodate GAM's demands without violating Indonesia's
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
\"That was the challenge, but I was optimistic from the very
\nbeginning,\" Hamid said.<\/p>\n
While working on the negotiations, another challenge faced him
\nback home. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned
\nhim as a witness in a graft case involving the General Elections
\nCommission (KPU), of which he had been a member before being
\nappointed a minister by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.<\/p>\n
Kalla told Hamid, who was a member of the Joint Anticorruption
\nCommittee (TGPTPK) and an adviser to the Partnership for
\nGovernance Reform, to stay in Helsinki for a while before
\nreturning home.<\/p>\n
After arriving back in Jakarta, Hamid said that he had nothing to do with
\nthe graft allegations leveled at the commission. He later visited
\nthe KPK for questioning. So far, the KPK has made accusations
\nagainst KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin and member Mulyana W.
\nKusumah only, as well as other KPU officials.<\/p>\n
With respect to criticism of the peace talks from nationalist
\nfigures, Hamid responds calmly. He says simply that they have the
\nright to express their views.<\/p>\n
However, he maintains that a peace agreement is a prerequisite
\nto ending the conflict in Aceh, particularly after last year's
\ntsunami and earthquakes, which claimed the lives of some 200,000
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"Two weeks ago, I visited Aceh. I met people on the streets
\nwho asked me to sign the agreement as soon as possible,\" he said,
\nadding that he had the full support of his family, relatives and
\nfriends.<\/p>\n
Hamid signed the truce as the government's representative.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Jakarta Post prior to his departure to
\nHelsinki on Saturday, he said that he was happy with the outcome of
\nthe talks.<\/p>\n
\"I'm pleased. Since becoming engaged in the talks, I have
\nprayed a lot. I even pray in the middle of the night because it's
\nall about the lives of so many people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, Hamid stressed that the signing of the truce did not
\nmean that every form of conflict in Aceh would immediately end.<\/p>\n
\"This is just the beginning. We all face a long journey
\nahead. The government will do its best to comply with the
\nagreement to ensure a lasting peace in Aceh,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-about-the-lives-of-so-many-people-1447893297",
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