JP\/7\/aceh<\/p>\n
GAM to attend further talks in Geneva<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Rebel leaders said on Saturday that they will attend fresh rounds
\nof peace talks with the Indonesian government later this month in
\nSwitzerland to try to end separatist fighting in Aceh province.<\/p>\n
Separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) Spokesman Tgk. Sofyan
\nIbrahim said his group had been notified by the Henry Dunant
\nCentre, the dialog facilitator, about the plan.<\/p>\n
All GAM negotiators would attend the dialog to be held in
\nGeneva, he said. \"I think it would be strange if GAM negotiators
\nfrom Aceh did not attend the meeting,\" he was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
The two camps are expected to discuss efforts to restore
\nsecurity in Aceh and the implementation of special autonomy for
\nthe rebellious province which includes greater resource revenue
\nand Islamic syariah law.<\/p>\n
No specified date was mentioned for the talks that would
\nfollow the latest dialog also in Geneva on Feb. 2, 2002, in which
\nGAM reportedly agreed to discuss the Special Autonomy Law for the
\nprovince, implemented by the government since January 2002, as
\nthe basis for future peace talks.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, however, stopped
\nshort of saying the result of the February talks showed that GAM
\nhad softened its stance toward Indonesia, especially after the
\ndeath of its commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is that (GAM) appeared at the
\ndiscussions, when before it seemed to be reluctant to engage in
\nanother peace dialog with us ... There will be further meetings
\nin the near future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The on again off again dialog between Jakarta and GAM has been
\ngoing on for the past two years. However, there were no signs
\nthat the conflict would cease in the near future.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two people were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in
\nthe almost daily violence in Aceh, residents told AFP on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
The victims included a 37 year-old employee with the state
\nTVRI television in the Blang Bintang area of Aceh Besar district.<\/p>\n
The employee died from a loss of blood on Friday night due to
\nmultiple gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n
In South Aceh on Thursday, unidentified gunmen opened fire on
\na group of people at a food stall in Sawang area, killing one and
\nwounding at least two others, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
As is often the case there were two wildly different
\naccusations from both sides.<\/p>\n
District military chief Lieutenant Colonel Agus Permana
\nclaimed that the shooting was carried out by GAM members.<\/p>\n
However, local GAM spokesman Ayah Manggeng denied the
\naccusation, stating that government troops were responsible for
\nthe incident.<\/p>\n
Also on Thursday, two residents were injured when two grenades
\nhurled by two unidentified men exploded near the office of the
\nLamapaseh Kota village chief in Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Neither side claimed responsibility for the explosions.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp7aceh-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }