RI asks ASEAN for observers in Aceh<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Vientiane<\/p>\n
Indonesia has asked its Southeast Asian neighbors to send
\nobservers to monitor a peace deal between separatist rebels and
\nthe government in the strife-torn Aceh province starting next
\nmonth, a Thai official said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda made the formal
\nrequest on Monday during a dinner with his counterparts in the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Thai Foreign
\nMinistry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The ministers gathered
\nhere for an annual meeting.<\/p>\n
"The Indonesian foreign minister wants ASEAN to play the key
\nrole in monitoring the situation in Aceh after the peace
\nagreement is signed on Aug. 15," Sihasak said.<\/p>\n
He said ASEAN members informally have agreed to assemble
\nmilitary officers and legal experts for the team, which is
\nexpected to be drawn mainly from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines
\nand Thailand, he said.<\/p>\n
Thailand sent a team of observers to East Timor after its
\nindependence from Indonesia, and Malaysia has sent one to the
\nsouthern Philippines, where Muslim rebels are fighting for an
\nindependent homeland.<\/p>\n
Representatives of the Free Aceh Movement rebel group and
\ngovernment negotiators agreed earlier this month in Finland on a
\npeace accord to be signed on Aug. 15.<\/p>\n
About 15,000 people have died in three decades of fighting in
\nAceh, many of them civilians.<\/p>\n
As part of the peace deal, the rebels gave up their demands
\nfor independence in return for some form of political
\nrepresentation in Aceh. The accord also calls for an amnesty for
\nthe separatists, the destruction of their weapons, and the
\nestablishment of a monitoring mission of unarmed European Union
\nand Southeast Asian observers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the foreign minister of Timor Leste, a former
\nprovince of Indonesia, on Tuesday praised Indonesia for being "so
\nopen and bringing the EU and ASEAN to observe the peace process
\nin Aceh."<\/p>\n
"This illustrates the change of mentality of mind in
\nIndonesia," said Jose Ramos-Horta, who was in Vientiane to attend
\na regional security forum.<\/p>\n
"Five or 10 years ago it was unthinkable that Indonesia would
\nagree to outside involvement in what they considered to be their
\ninternal problem. This reflects a leap forward in the
\nsophistication in the way Indonesia deals with certain issues,"
\nhe said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-asks-asean-for-observers-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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