PIB opposes war in Aceh, urges talks<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The New Indonesia Party (PIB) broke rank from mainstream
\npolitical parties when they criticized the government's plan to
\nlaunch a military crackdown against separatist rebels in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The PIB, one of the newest political parties hoping to
\nchallenge the status quo in the 2004 elections, decried the
\ngovernment's \"politics of violence\" in addressing the nation's
\nproblems, saying that this approach had only fueled resentment
\namong people in the region and their aspirations to secede from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The PIB rejects the politics of violence and its
\nintensification in conflict areas,\" the party said in a
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
\"Politics of violence is not an option, especially when
\ndiplomatic efforts have not been exhausted,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The party, headed by noted economist Sjahrir, has been
\nactively recruiting support among young people by offering an
\nalternative to the existing political parties.<\/p>\n
The House's leadership on Thursday gave the government the
\ngreen light to launch a military operation in Aceh, if
\nnegotiations with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), scheduled to take
\nplace in Tokyo this weekend, fail.<\/p>\n
With major political parties and most mainstream media
\nsupporting the government's plan to use force in Aceh, open
\nopposition to the plan has been rare.<\/p>\n
The PIB urged the Indonesian government and GAM to return to
\nthe negotiating table to ensure that peace would prevail in Aceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pib-opposes-war-in-aceh-urges-talks-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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