RI should ensure security for peace monitors in Aceh<\/p>\n
The representatives of the four co-chairs of the Tokyo
\nconference on peace and reconstruction in Aceh -- Japan, the
\nU.S., the Europe Union and the World Bank -- last week met with
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen.
\n(ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to express their concerns over
\nthe worsening situation in Aceh. Japanese Ambassador to
\nIndonesia, Yutaka Iimura, spoke to The Jakarta Post's Kornelius
\nPurba about Aceh. Excerpts of the interview follow:<\/p>\n
Question: What is your assessment about the recent
\ndevelopments in Aceh?<\/p>\n
Answer : The four co-chairs of the Tokyo conference met with
\nMinister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on April 9. It was about Aceh,
\nand Minister Yudhoyono explained to us how the Indonesian
\ngovernment viewed the current situation in Aceh, and we explained
\nour position. We are very concerned about the current situation
\nin Aceh. We reaffirmed our support of the peace process to
\nMinister Yudhoyono ...<\/p>\n
Firstly, we are firm in our support of the Cessation of
\nHostilities Agreement (COHA), and also a peaceful solution to the
\nAceh problems. We also said in our statement, that the solution
\nof the Aceh problem should be done within the territorial
\nintegrity of Indonesia. So we won't support any attempt to change
\nthe borders of Indonesia. We urged both parties to refrain from
\nthe use of arms and violence. We also deplored the recent
\nattacks against the monitoring teams (Joint Security Team) and we
\nurged the Indonesian government to continue steps to ensure the
\nsecurity of the monitoring teams.<\/p>\n
We also urged GAM (Free Aceh Movement) not to take any action
\ninconsistent with COHA's spirit. Naturally COHA is very important
\nand critical, so we expressed our intention to reinforce the
\npeace process. And finally, we made an appeal to go beyond COHA.
\nCOHA provides a framework for security aspects of the problem.<\/p>\n
Political negotiations should start, in order to prepare for
\nthe general elections in 2004. This is our main message. Why did
\nwe come up with this statement at this moment? Because, we are
\nvery concerned about the current situation, particularly because
\nthe JSC (Joint Security Committee) decided to withdraw their
\nmonitoring teams from the field offices. I guess they are already
\nback in Banda Aceh. I think this process is at a critical
\njuncture, so we thought we needed to express our concern again.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you have any suggestions for the government?<\/p>\n
A: Our understanding is that the government of Indonesia is
\nplanning for a meeting of the Joint Council. The government
\nintends to discuss all the problems during this peace process. I
\nhope with the participation of GAM all these problems can be
\nresolved. We are not directly involved in the peace negotiation
\nprocess ... and as HDC has been playing the role of facilitator
\nin the peace process, I think the four co-chairs at this stage do
\nnot have any intention of getting involved directly in the
\nnegotiation process.<\/p>\n
Q: How about indirect involvement?<\/p>\n
A: Indirectly, there are two ways for us to support the peace
\nprocess. First, as we said in our statement, we clearly support
\nthe peace process, this is moral support. Secondly, we have
\nalready started our program of assistance for the reconstruction
\nand humanitarian assistance for Aceh so that the Acehnese feel
\nthat peace is there, not only in terms of human rights but also
\nin terms of living standards. We hope by doing so, there will be
\ncontinuous, and even greater momentum for peace, not only for the
\nAcehnese, but also for ordinary people and GAM.<\/p>\n
Q: The peace agreement is virtually nearly over now, following
\nthe government's announcement to resume military operations in
\nAceh. What is your comment?<\/p>\n
A: I am not aware that the military has made the plan. I
\nunderstand that what they are saying is that they are prepared to
\ntake military actions if peace fails. But I don't think the
\ngovernment has reached a judgment that peace has failed. I think
\nthe government is saying that it is still pursuing the peace
\nprocess in Aceh ... I think my understanding is shared by the
\nother co-chairs. We strongly hope the peace process can continue.<\/p>\n
Q: What is your view about increasing accusations being traded
\nbetween the Indonesian Military (TNI) and GAM?<\/p>\n
A: That is also why we urge both sides to refrain from
\nprovocations, which are inconsistent with COHA. The COHA
\nagreement has been successful in terms of reducing the number of
\ncausalities, the number of armed clashes. But unfortunately, in
\nrecent days there have been several incidents which have
\ndeteriorated the condition of peace. I think this trend should be
\nresolved and all sides should defend peace ... and not undermine
\nthe peace process.<\/p>\n
Q: Did you also meet with TNI leaders to discuss Aceh?<\/p>\n
A: Not for the time being. We don't have plans yet to meet with
\nmilitary people. Of course this does not exclude the future
\nmeetings with military leaders. So far, we have been talking to
\nministers.<\/p>\n
Q: Is the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) alone effective enough to
\nfacilitate the peace process without the help of other countries?<\/p>\n
A: HDC has been playing a very effective role as a facilitator.
\nBut, first, the Joint Security Committee (JSC) is not composed of
\nHDC only, but composed of GAM, HDC and Indonesian government
\nrepresentatives. So we want them to work together very well, so
\nthat this committee functions. In that sense, cooperation among
\nthe three parties is very important.<\/p>\n
It is not fair for us to criticize HDC, it should be a joint
\neffort by all three parties. Secondly, in terms of the number of
\npersonnel on the monitoring teams and also in terms of verifiers
\nof the demilitarization process, it probably should be discussed
\nfurther among parties concerned. But it may be true that the
\nmechanism should be strengthened.<\/p>\n
Q: After the invasion of Iraq, there is a growing rejection of a
\nU.S. role in Aceh. What is your view about this?<\/p>\n
A: Personally, I have never heard that kind of criticism after
\nthe Iraqi war started. But I would like to say that the U.S. is
\nvery genuine in supporting the peace process and they have been
\ngenuinely trying to help. I don't think it is right to connect
\nthe Iraqi war and the peace process in Aceh.<\/p>\n
Q: Isn't this the first time that your government has assisted a
\nforeign country to resolve a domestic problem?<\/p>\n
A: We were one of the main players in the peace process in
\nCambodia. Now we are trying to contribute to the peace process in
\nSri Lanka, also we are trying to contribute to establishing peace
\nin Mindanao, the Philippines. In Aceh, we are trying to
\ncontribute. We attach great importance to these -- maybe this is
\na new trend -- and we are trying to contribute more to peace in
\nconflict areas. This is one of the pillars of our foreign affairs
\npolicy now.<\/p>\n
But our contribution for Aceh does not come from this general
\npolicy. It comes from our concern to help Indonesia to sustain
\nits territorial integrity and its political stability. Indonesia
\nis the most important partner for us in this region.<\/p>\n
Q: Do the Tokyo co-chairs intend to link their loans to Indonesia
\nwith progress in Aceh?<\/p>\n
A: As far as we are concerned, Japan will continue to assist
\nIndonesia. We are the main partner of the ODA (Official
\nDevelopment Assistance) for the country. We will continue to be
\nthe main partner. This is one thing. The other part of our policy
\nis that we will be very serious about helping the reconstruction
\nof Aceh. So whether the program in Aceh is peacefully resolved or
\nnot, will not affect our development program in Indonesia.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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