Some House leaders support local parties in Aceh<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several leaders of the House of Representatives have expressed
\nsupport for the government's plan to allow members of the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) to set up local political parties, a key GAM
\ndemand for a lasting peace deal in Aceh but which has been
\nopposed by some lawmakers.<\/p>\n
The positive sign emerged during a meeting late on Sunday at
\nthe residence of Vice President Jusuf Kalla between top
\ngovernment officials and executives from nine political parties
\nin the House. However, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P), which has the second largest faction in the
\nHouse, was absent from the meeting.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Agung Laksono, who is also deputy leader of the
\nGolkar Party, the largest faction in the House, said on Monday he
\nwas optimistic the proposal on local parties would be endorsed by
\nthe House.<\/p>\n
House Deputy Speaker Zaenal Ma'arif of the Star Reform Party
\n(PBR) also was optimistic.<\/p>\n
\"Why wouldn't we endorse the proposal? We need to remember
\nthat this is perhaps the only way to establish peace in Aceh. As
\nlong as it is not against the Constitution, just go ahead,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The government and GAM leaders concluded a week of peace talks
\non July 17 in Helsinki. One of the key points of the peace deal,
\naimed at ending decades of conflict in oil-rich Aceh, is a
\nprovision allowing GAM members to form local political parties as
\nvehicles to contest local elections.<\/p>\n
Some lawmakers have strongly opposed the proposal, saying it
\nviolates existing laws and could trigger other regions to demand
\nsimilar treatment.<\/p>\n
Kalla is optimistic nine of the 10 factions in the House will
\napprove the local party proposal and provide a legal basis for
\nit, either by revising Law No. 18\/2001 on special autonomy for
\nAceh or Law No. 31\/2002 on political parties.<\/p>\n
Agung said most factions in the House would allow the
\ngovernment to sign the peace deal with GAM on Aug. 15 without
\nfirst having to seek formal approval from the House.<\/p>\n
But he said that before the signing, there would be a
\nconsultative meeting between lawmakers and the government, during
\nwhich the government would explain the details of the peace deal
\nand seek input for its implementation.<\/p>\n
\"It will not be a forum to seek approval because it is an
\nagreement with Indonesians, not foreigners. But some elements in
\nthe deal will need the House's approval, such as the granting of
\namnesty (for rebels) and the creation of local parties in Aceh,\"
\nsaid Agung, pointing out that revising the law on special
\nautonomy for Aceh or the law on political parties would require
\nthe approval of the House.<\/p>\n
Asked about the fact that some GAM leaders were no longer
\nIndonesian citizens, Agung said what mattered was that they
\nintended to re-embrace their Indonesian citizenship.<\/p>\n
Some lawmakers had earlier demanded the government not sign
\nthe deal without first obtaining the House's approval, arguing
\nthat it was in essence a peace deal with foreigners.<\/p>\n
Details of the Helsinki peace deal, which will be made public
\nin its entirety following its signing on Aug. 15 include:
\nterminating the conflict in Aceh peacefully and comprehensively;
\ngranting amnesty for GAM members and restoring all of their
\nrights; GAM disarming and the Indonesian Military withdrawing
\nreinforcement troops from Aceh; allowing former GAM members to
\ncontest elections; and monitoring of the peace deal by teams from
\nthe European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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