TNI chief warns against Aceh troop withdrawal<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto welcomed
\non Wednesday the planned Tokyo meeting on Aceh, but warned that
\nany foreign assistance for Aceh should have no conditions
\nattached.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a hearing with House of Representatives Commission
\nI for political, security and foreign affairs, Endriartono said
\nthat the security of the Acehnese people could not be regarded as
\na bargaining chip.<\/p>\n
At least 23 foreign countries have confirmed their
\nparticipation in a meeting in Tokyo on Dec. 3, barely one week
\nbefore the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Indonesian government are
\ndue to sign a peace deal on Dec. 9, 2002.<\/p>\n
The meeting, organized by Japan and the U.S., as well as the
\nWorld Bank, is designed to discuss possible financial assistance
\nfor rehabilitation and reconstruction in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
"I welcome the planned meeting on Aceh and consider it as part
\nof foreign concern regarding serious issues in the province.<\/p>\n
"However, should the meeting come to a conclusion that would
\nproduce no benefit to this country, such as asking the military
\nto withdraw from the territory, we would have to reconsider the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
He did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Following the downfall of former president Soeharto in 1999,
\nthe government changed its policy on Aceh from a military
\napproach to one of diplomacy.<\/p>\n
The peace approach, however, has been in contrast to the
\npresence, currently, of more than 21,000 military reinforcement
\npersonnel in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
TNI's leadership also revived the Iskandar Muda Military
\nCommand in February, a move that many observers and human rights
\nactivists feared would only worsen the situation there.<\/p>\n
In 2000, Swiss-based, non-governmental organization Henry
\nDunant Center (HDC) started facilitating peace talks between the
\nIndonesian government and GAM in order to seek a peaceful
\nsolution to the Aceh question.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono, meanwhile, asserted that post-conflict
\nreconstruction and rehabilitation in the province would be
\ncarried out simultaneously with the operation to manage and stop
\narmed conflict there over the following six months.<\/p>\n
The military also vowed to continue its siege of a GAM
\nstronghold in Cot Trieng, North Aceh, until the rebels agreed to
\nsign a government-prepared peace pact.<\/p>\n
"Thus far, we have tolerated a series of delays to the peace
\nagreement between the government and GAM as we believe that a
\npeaceful solution is the best way forward for all of us.<\/p>\n
"However, if GAM tries to manipulate us (Indonesia), and that
\nseries of delays is one of its efforts to buy time, I think we
\nwill have to explore other solutions to stop the Acehnese from
\nsuffering," Endriartono said, without elaborating.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-chief-warns-against-aceh-troop-withdrawal-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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