Aceh talks to resume in Switzerland

Aceh talks to resume in Switzerland

JAKARTA (JP): Make or break talks on Aceh will commence in
Davos, Switzerland, on Saturday with Indonesian government
negotiators likely to make one final offer to Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) representatives for special autonomy in the province.

Failure to make headway will likely doom the Humanitarian
Pause signed last year as Cabinet ministers have said that
Jakarta does not wish to extend the accord that expires Jan. 15.

Indonesia's lead negotiator Hassan Wirajuda said on Friday
that the special autonomy offer and an end to separatist demands
will be high on the agenda.

"We will talk about substance and discuss what will happen
after Jan. 15. But we will stick with our offer and wait for GAM
to state their demands, Hassan told The Jakarta Post.

"Let's hope the discussions work out," he added.

Hassan remained hopeful of a possible extension of the accord
he signed in May if certain agreements can be reached.

He maintained that Jakarta has yet to conclude anything,
whether to extend the accord or not.

Earlier on Thursday, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri
said in a meeting in Geneva with the Henry Dunant Center's (HDC)
Director, Martin Griffiths, that all parties should abide by the
agreement to create conducive conditions for talks on substantive
matters to help resolve the Aceh problems.

Megawati said the government has every intention to settle the
Aceh problem through dialog, but underlined that talks must be
based on Aceh being part of Indonesia, Antara reported.

In what looks like a carrot-and-stick approach to the Aceh
issue, the chief of the Indonesian Marine Corps, Maj. Gen. Harri
Triyono, asserted that he was ready to deploy one-third of the
corps' 8,000 soldiers to the troubled province if the Indonesian
Military Chief orders it.

"We are following the government's policy in Aceh, but if we
have to add more troops, we are ready to send one-third of our
marines," Harri told reporters on Friday as quoted by Antara,
adding that currently there are 600 marines in the province.

In Banda Aceh a local religious leader, during Friday prayers
at the Baiturrahman grand mosque, called on the people of Aceh to
pray for the success of the talks between the Indonesian
government and GAM.

"Let us pray to God for the success of the dialog as it will
bring peace in Aceh," councillor Muhammad Nasir Djami said in
front of thousands who had gathered to pray.

Meanwhile latest reports reveal that fighting between security
forces and separatist rebels has left at least six dead, police
and hospital workers said Friday.

East Aceh Police chief Adj. to Chief Comr. Abdullah Hayati
said four people, including one police officer, were killed in
clashes with rebels in eastern reaches of the province on
Thursday afternoon.

Hospital officials said two unidentified bodies were also
found in other parts of the region on Friday.

The latest deaths brings to 13 the number of people killed so
far this year.

Separately, Aceh's Coalition of Human rights NGOs lead by
Maimul Fidar demanded the provincial police grant city arrest
status for Muhammad Nazar, chief of Aceh Referendum Information
Center (SIRA).

"Nazar won't escape or remove any evidence against him,"
Maimul, who is also Nazar's lawyer, said on Friday.

Nazar is being charged under Article 154 and 155 of the
Criminal Code for showing hostile intentions/treason against the
state, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

He is currently being detained at Aceh Besar Police Precinct,
pending trial.(50/edt/dja)