50 military, police officers to sit on JSC

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh

The government has appointed 50 military and police officers to sit on the Joint Security Committee (JSC) which will be in charge of formulating the implementation process of the peace agreement signed with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on Dec. 9.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Wednesday that the security officers had been prepared for more than a month to be on the commission.

"Among the military/police members, there are several names that I can disclose to you now, such as Brig. Gen. George Toisuta, the incumbent Chief of Staff of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Division I (based in Malang, Central Java) and Brig. Gen. Nurdin of the Navy," Susilo told a press conference organized upon his arrival from Geneva, Switzerland, where he witnessed the signing of the peace accord between the government and GAM.

The agreement calls for the establishment of a Joint Security Committee, which will be in charge of, among other things, formulating implementation policy of the peace accord, monitoring security conditions in Aceh, and undertaking full investigations of any security violations.

Susilo also said that some local security authorities, including the military commander and provincial police chief, would join with the 150-strong Commission.

"The JSC comprises 50 representatives from Indonesia, GAM, and the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) respectively," said Susilo, adding that Thailand and the Philippines had agreed to sit on the committee also.

GAM, on the other hand, said Wednesday that it preferred to appoint civilians to the committee.

GAM negotiator Tengku Kamaruzzaman said that GAM commander Tengku Muzakir Manaf would not be appointed as one of the JSC members representing the Acehnese, saying that "it is not about a high rank in the military that allows someone to be on the JSC. Civilians who live in Switzerland are more favorable, instead of military members who are supposed to follow the civilian leader's decisions."

Kamaruzzaman, who was also present at the peace meeting in Geneva, further said that GAM would immediately appoint its personnel for the JSC after "we conclude more specific rules about the Committee."

"One thing is for sure is that GAM personnel who join the Committee are senior leaders believed to be able to control the troops on the ground.

"If I'm not mistaken, a two-star military general from Thailand will chair the Committee," Kamaruzzaman told The Jakarta Post.

Under the agreement, the committee would also take appropriate action to restore security and agree beforehand on the sanctions to be applied should any party violate the agreement.

The committee also has to make weekly reports on the security situation in Aceh and to ensure that no new paramilitary force is created to assume the previous functions of the notorious Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob).

The most prominent role carried out by the Committee would be designing and implementing a mutually agreed process of demilitarization.

"Should any party -- whether Indonesia or GAM -- violate that agreement and feel unsatisfied with the sanction or decision taken by JSC, they are allowed to appeal to the Joint Council as the supreme institution. I, myself, will be in charge there, as well as the most senior personnel from the GAM and HDC," Susilo said.

Meanwhile, the Philippines said on Wednesday it would send 25 military officers to Aceh next week to monitor the recently signed peace accord between the government and GAM.

Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said Wednesday that the group would monitor the situation in the troubled province, investigate security violations and report on their findings.

Philippine officials said they were responding to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's recent request for observers in Aceh.