Kalla visits Aceh, monitors peace process<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Vice President Jusuf Kalla visited Aceh on Wednesday to monitor
\npost-tsunami reconstruction and hold talks on the progress in the
\nhistoric peace process with former separatist rebels in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
In his first trip to the province after the signing of the
\npeace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) leaders in Helsinki in August this year, Kalla held a
\nclosed-door meeting with the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM)'s top
\ntwo officials, Pieter Feith and his deputy Nipat Thonglek from
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
They did not comment to reporters after the talks, AFP
\nreported. The talks came ahead of the start of a third phase of a
\nweapons decommissioning by GAM on Monday.<\/p>\n
About 240 peace monitors from the European Union and five
\nmember states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are
\noverseeing the peace deal aimed at ending nearly three decades of
\nconflict in the province.<\/p>\n
The deal saw GAM drop its long-held demand for independence in
\nexchange for a form of local government. GAM must also gradually
\nhand over its declared 840-weapon arsenal in four stages, which
\nis expected to be concluded by the end of the year. So far, 476
\nweapons have already been handed over and in return, the military
\nand police have pulled out more than half of the 24,000
\nreinforcement troops in Aceh.<\/p>\n
However, Kalla's short trip on Wednesday disappointed Kampung
\nJawa residents in Kutaraja district, Banda Aceh since the tsunami
\nsurvivors did not have the chance to talk with him.<\/p>\n
\"We had high hopes that we could talk with the Vice President.
\nEven half an hour would be enough,\" said Yani, a resident, who
\nhad been waiting with other residents for Kalla to arrive since
\nthe morning.<\/p>\n
\"We want to ask the government to make a dam to protect the
\nvillage from seawater,\" said Khairunisa, another resident.<\/p>\n
Kalla, who was accompanied by several ministers, only visited
\nthe village for about 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
In the one-day visit, Kalla met local leaders, including 14
\nhigh-ranking GAM officials, and opened a local congress of the
\nGolkar party he chairs before returning to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He was also briefed by the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
\nAgency for Aceh and Nias on its work and plans to provide 78,000
\nhomes over the next year.<\/p>\n
In Kampung Jawa village, Kalla watched Acehnese traditional
\nhouses built by non-governmental organization Muslim Aid for the
\ntsunami victims.<\/p>\n
According to the organization's director, Fadlullah Wilmot,
\nthe Vice President was impressed with the construction of the
\nhouses.<\/p>\n
From 170 of the Rumah Aceh traditional houses the organization
\nplanned to build for tsunami victims, 80 were completed and
\noccupied.<\/p>\n
\"The main material is coconut wood so there's no need to fell
\nwood from the forest,\" said Wilmot, adding that it requires Rp 40
\nmillion (US$4,000) to build each house, including providing
\nelectricity.<\/p>\n
So far, international and local non-governmental organizations
\nhave built 5,820 of the planned 200,000 houses for tsunami
\nvictims in Aceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kalla-visits-aceh-monitors-peace-process-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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