Aceh talks move slowly in Switzerland

Aceh talks move slowly in Switzerland

Agencies, Geneva, Switzerland

Talks between Indonesian government officials and
separatist rebels from the troubled province of Aceh were
advancing slowly on Sunday at an undisclosed location in
Switzerland, sources linked to the talks said.

"There are big problems on the table and the discussions are
advancing slowly," said the source, referring to new efforts in
Switzerland to reach a peace deal ending the Free Aceh Movement's
(GAM) 25-year rebel war for independence.

"I don't expect any spectacular results from this meeting,
maybe an improvement in communication between the two parties,"
said the source, who did not want to be identified, as quoted by
AFP.

Andy Andrea, spokesman for the Geneva-based Henry Dunant
Center for Humanitarian Dialogue which was organizing the talks,
said negotiations began early Sunday and that a statement would
be released later in the day.

Prospects for a breakthrough in the talks have been clouded by
fresh violence in the province, where GAM has been fighting for
independence from Indonesia since 1976.

The group, whose leadership is in exile in Sweden, threatened
to boycott the talks after Indonesian troops killed their
military commander Abdullah Syafe'i during a raid on a jungle
hideout on Jan. 22.

In fresh clashes on Friday, soldiers raided another suspected
guerrilla hideout in Aceh and arrested two rebels.

The Dunant Center, which has been involved since 2000 in
numerous unsuccessful attempts to broker a lasting peace deal in
Aceh, hosted a previous round of peace talks in Geneva in July
2001, which resulted in a short-lived cease-fire.

At the time the Indonesian delegation suspended the Security
Joint Committee and dissolved the Humanitarian Action Joint
Committee.

Sources said this weekend's meeting was largely aimed at
restoring confidence between the two sides and was unlikely to
address the issue of a new cease-fire.

Despite the ongoing peace efforts, the violent conflict has
shown no sign of abating in Aceh, a staunchly Muslim province on
the northern tip of Sumatra island.

Thousands of people have been killed since Aceh was declared a
military operation area in 1988 and Indonesian troops were
deployed to quash the separatist movement.

Last year Jakarta granted Aceh greater self-rule and a larger
share of the revenue from its substantial oil and gas reserves.
It also allowed the province to adopt Islamic law, but insisted
it would not allow independence.

Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said recently the
GAM delegation would be led by Malik Mahmud while the Indonesian
delegation by Wiryono Sastrowardoyo, former Indonesian ambassador
to Australia.

Andrea said he was happy that the two sides were still willing
to meet with each other although violence still continued.

Meanwhile, Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh expressed hope on
Saturday that the dialog between the Indonesian government and
GAM would lead to a peaceful settlement of the Aceh problem.

"We strongly hope the dialog can produce a peaceful solution
to the Aceh conflict," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said he hoped all parties could create a more peaceful and
conducive atmosphere as well as reduce violence.

He said the provincial administration supported the dialog.

Regarding the failure of the planned dialog between the
provincial administration and GAM, Puteh said that the dialog was
actually not canceled, but since it was held in Aceh it would be
held under the auspices of the provincial administration.

It was later decided that it would be continued at a national
level and be held abroad, he said.

"For the Aceh provincial administration the question of where
the dialog will be held is not important. What is important is
that the problem can be solved immediately," he said.

Asked if the dialog might be held abroad and at home, Puteh
said: "I don't think so. But we are ready if it will be placed
again in the hands of the provincial administration."