JP\/4\/GAM<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia is likely to halt future peace talks with the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) should the secessionist movement persist with its
\nagenda of seceding from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
While acknowledging that the Indonesia-GAM conflict was a
\ncomplex issue due to the basic difference in political stances
\nthus making it difficult to resolve the matter quickly, the
\nIndonesian government would review the outcome of the current
\nnegotiations if there was any move from GAM in the direction of
\nthe government's proposals.<\/p>\n
"We'll see if there's any seriousness on GAM's part. If not,
\nthen I would have to agree with the idea of stopping (further
\nnegotiations)," Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda told
\nreporters after meeting President Megawati Soekarnoputri on
\nFriday at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement, even while it continued to demand
\nindependence, agreed at the previous talks in February to use the
\nspecial autonomy status granted to Aceh as the basis for future
\nnegotiations.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the government will only agree to a solution which
\ncomes within the framework of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Hassan also said that last year GAM had agreed to the
\ngovernment's proposal for an all inclusive dialogue, comprising
\nelements of the Acehnese people and GAM, as part of the effort to
\nseek peace in the resource-rich province.<\/p>\n
"GAM agreed (last year), but the implementation is yet to take
\nplace in Banda Aceh especially ... in this process, the
\nnegotiations in Switzerland will only be held occasionally to
\nreview the domestic talks," he explained, while adding that GAM
\nwas still considered to be a secessionist movement, although the
\npeace negotiations were being handled by the Department of
\nForeign Affairs along with the Ministry of Political and Security
\nAffairs instead of the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Indonesia and GAM resume their peace talks in
\nGeneva, Switzerland, which will take place over two days.<\/p>\n
Previously, both Hassan and the Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that
\nGAM would not gain international support should they continue to
\npush for an independent state.<\/p>\n
Despite the long-running talks between Indonesia and GAM,
\nvarious human rights abuses are still reportedly talking place in
\nAceh, giving rise to greater distrust among the Acehnese people
\nof the security apparatus there.<\/p>\n
More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have died since the
\nlow-level guerrilla campaign to turn the province into an
\nindependent state began in 1976, with more than 400 having died
\nso far this year alone.<\/p>\n
In February, Susilo also expressed the government's reluctance
\nto proceed with negotiations, saying that the government might
\ngive up on seeking a solution through dialogue should GAM
\ncontinue to reject the special autonomy package and aspire to
\nseparate from Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4gam-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}