RI, GAM to hold talks in Finland<\/p>\n
Agencies, Helsinki\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia and separatist rebels from tsunami-hit Aceh province
\nwill hold talks in Helsinki next week, mediated by former Finnish
\npresident Martti Ahtisaari, his office said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The talks between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) will be in Helsinki towards the end of next week,
\nAhtisaari's Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) group said.<\/p>\n
\"Because of the sensitivity of the meeting and in order to
\ncreate a conducive atmosphere, President Ahtisaari and CMI will
\nnot comment on the details of the meeting at this stage,\" the
\nstatement on the CMI Web site said.<\/p>\n
Ahtisaari is the chairman of the CMI, a non-governmental
\nagency which works to prevent and manage conflicts.<\/p>\n
The threat of violence in Aceh, where most of Indonesia's more
\nthan 173,000 tsunami victims died, has raised concern among aid
\nagencies involved in relief efforts in the region, which is also
\nthe scene of a bloody, three-decade long insurgency.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the Dec. 26 tsunami, both sides pledged to
\nstop fighting. But the informal truce appears to have been
\nignored. The Indonesian Military announced on Sunday that it had
\nkilled more than 200 alleged rebels in the last four weeks.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said earlier last
\nweek that the disaster in Aceh should open an opportunity to end
\nthe conflict, noting that \"it's quite realistic that by the end
\nof this month both sides can sit down together for a meeting.\"<\/p>\n
Referring to the CMI report, Indonesian Foreign Ministry
\nspokesman Marty Natalegawa said: \"I can neither confirm nor deny
\nthose reports.\"<\/p>\n
Bakhtiar Abdullah, a spokesman for the rebel group's exiled
\nleadership in Sweden, also said he had no information on any
\ncontacts between the two sides.<\/p>\n
Abdullah, however, said his side was eager but only if the
\nterms were acceptable.<\/p>\n
\"We have always said we're not going to close our door for
\ndialogue but it has to be sustainable and agreeable for both
\nparties. It takes two to tango.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare Alwi Shihab, who is overseeing relief operations in Aceh,
\nsaid on Saturday the government would consider anything except
\nsovereignty for Aceh during upcoming peace talks.<\/p>\n
\"We will entertain any demand short of independence,\" he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-gam-to-hold-talks-in-finland-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }