Aceh peace talks resume with both sides equally adamant
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) resumed peace talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, but with both sides sticking to their agendas it remains to be seen if this latest round of talks can break the deadlock.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday any solution to the prolonged conflict in Aceh must be addressed within the framework of the unitary state of Indonesia and the special autonomy law for the province.
And GAM negotiators demanded earlier that the military halt its operations in the troubled province, while insisting that the group would continue fighting for independence.
In peace talks in February, GAM agreed to use special autonomy status as the basis for future negotiations.
Hassan said on Wednesday he was optimistic the two sides would be able to meet halfway in their demands, while emphasizing that countries such as Sweden and the United States were making efforts to persuade GAM to accept special autonomy as a final solution.
"Several countries including Sweden have reiterated their commitment to support Indonesia's territorial integrity, while acknowledging special autonomy (for Aceh) as the final solution.
"This same stance has been taken by the United States, which has also made efforts to bring GAM to the negotiating table and to accept the special autonomy," Hassan said after a Cabinet meeting.
When asked about the separatist movement's persistent demand for independence from Indonesia, Hassan said: "They (GAM) know that there is no (international) support for Aceh's independence."
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed Hassan's statement, saying he received a concrete agreement during his recent trip to Sweden that the international community supported talks aimed at GAM's acceptance of the special autonomy offered by Indonesia.
Susilo also said that Indonesia would make efforts to hold any future talks in the country.
"Another agreement we wish to reach is the shifting of the meetings to Aceh," he said.
Despite of the numerous rounds of peace talks between Indonesia and GAM, allegations of human rights abuses continue to come out of the resource-rich province, increasing the distrust of the Acehnese for the security apparatus there.
More than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have died since the struggle to establish an independent state which began in 1976, with more than 400 having died this year alone.
The Henry Dunant Center-sponsored talks are being attended by British Lord Avenbury, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Anthony Zinny and former Thai foreign affairs minister Pitsuwan.
Indonesia is represented by Wiryono Sastrohandoyo and National Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B.
GAM is represented by Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, Tgk. Muhammad Usman, T. Kamaruzzaman, Amni Ahmad Marzuki and Amdi bin Hamdani.