Aceh's agony

Aceh's agony

The process of bringing an enduring peace to Indonesias
province of Aceh has suffered a setback with the cancellation of
talks between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

If the two sides do not resume negotiations and soon there
could be renewed fighting between GAM rebels and the Indonesian
military.

This would be tragic since the talks in Geneva had raised
hopes that the conflict in Aceh, which began in 1975 when GAM
launched its secessionist campaign, would finally end to bring
peace to Aceh and its people. Many Acehnese, and Indonesian
soldiers too, have died in the fighting and obviously many more
will lose their lives if the insurrection is resumed.

Given the grave consequences, the reason for the cancellation
is surprising. The talks were called off because GAM wanted the
start postponed from Friday to Sunday, but Jakarta withdrew in
protest. Once this blows over, both sides must settle down and
get the talks moving again.

Jakarta and GAM began the peace process by signing a deal to
cease hostilities in December last year. The road to a lasting
peace was not expected to be easy, given the deep suspicions and
hostility on both sides. But the fact that they had agreed to
stop fighting and meet to find a peaceful solution gave much room
for optimism.

There is hope for peace as long as the two sides are talking
because the agreement on stopping hostilities holds. That is why
it is vital that the two sides go back to the negotiating table
before the ceasefire breaks down.

-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur