Muslim figures call for peaceful solution to Aceh problems<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two noted Muslim leaders reiterated their concern about the
\ngovernment's plan to launch a military operation in the resource-
\nrich province of Aceh, asking that a peace accord with local
\nrebels be given more time to work.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the country's second largest Muslim organization
\nMuhammadiyah, Ahman Syafii Maarif and respected Muslim
\nintellectual Nurcholis "Cak Nur" Madjid appealed again for a
\npeaceful solution.<\/p>\n
"A security approach would not solve the problem but rather
\nwould destroy the province," Syafii said on Thursday. "I met
\nyesterday with President Megawati (Soekarnoputri) to convey my
\nskepticism over the government's policy in Aceh."<\/p>\n
He said the President should have given more attention to
\nsocial and welfare problems in the province rather than planning
\na mass deployment of troops there.<\/p>\n
The government has said it would resume its military operation
\namid signs that the peace deal with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nwas faltering.<\/p>\n
But according to Syafii, the peace deal has failed to take
\nroot as both sides view the deal differently.<\/p>\n
He suggested Indonesia and GAM revise the Cessation of
\nHostilities Agreement (COHA) to solve the misunderstanding.<\/p>\n
"There are crucial points in the agreement that need further
\nevaluation and amendment," Syafii said.<\/p>\n
He said GAM saw the COHA as the starting point for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
The preamble of the COHA requires GAM to accept Aceh's special
\nautonomy status. But while GAM considers the special autonomy as
\na gateway to independence, Indonesia says autonomy is all it is
\nprepared to give.<\/p>\n
"Such differences in the way the peace deal is viewed should
\nbe seen as a beginning to continue dialog in the planned meeting
\nto create lasting peace in the province," Syafii said.<\/p>\n
Calls for a peaceful solution have intensified lately in
\nreaction to the government's planned military operation.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting for independence since 1976, in a war
\nthat has claimed over 10,000 lives most of whom were civilians.<\/p>\n
The COHA marked the first breakthrough as a step toward
\nbringing a more permanent peace to Aceh. Negotiated over a period
\nof over two years under the auspices of the Swiss-based Henry
\nDunant Centre (HDC), the COHA aims to first end fighting before
\nmoving toward a political solution to the conflict.<\/p>\n
Since the deal was signed last December, the level of violence
\nin Aceh has dropped significantly. Life has returned to normal
\nfor many Acehnese.<\/p>\n
Over the past few weeks, however, the implementation of COHA
\nhas ran into a wall. GAM refuses to relocate its weapons and is
\nstill campaigning for independence. Fighting should have stopped
\nby now, yet it continues in some parts of the province.<\/p>\n
GAM and Indonesia will meet for a Joint Council meeting in
\nJapan on April 25, in a last ditch effort to safe the COHA.<\/p>\n
Syafii suggested the government seek nonmilitary solutions.
\n"Violence will never win the hearts and minds of the Acehnese,"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Cak Nur agreed. He said Jakarta's long mistreatment of the
\nAcehnese had sown hatred against the government.<\/p>\n
"Aceh has been contributing a lot to the country from its
\nnatural resources. But we have failed to make the people prosper
\nthere," he said.<\/p>\n
"The key point is a peaceful solution. If the government
\ninsists on launching a military operation, it must be a limited
\none to avoid casualties among civilians," he said.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, hundreds of Acehnese demonstrated along Jakarta
\nmain thoroughfares in rejection of the military operation. They
\nalso called on the United Nations to stop the province descending
\ninto violence.<\/p>\n
Hidayat Nurwahid of the Welfare Justice Party (PKS), who
\nrecently orchestrated a massive antiwar rally against the United
\nStates' attack on Iraq, voiced support for a military solution in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
"The issue of Aceh is different from Iraq because in Aceh
\npeople are campaigning to separate the province from Indonesia,"
\nhe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/muslim-figures-call-for-peaceful-solution-to-aceh-problems-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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