After the GAM anniversary

After the GAM anniversary

Whatever happens in Aceh, it will not change Jakarta's determination to keep the resource-rich territory. Even so, Gus Dur (President Abdurrahman Wahid) obviously cannot afford to disregard the problems and must take some concrete action to calm the situation -- including by punishing those who are guilty of having committed abuses.

After the Free Aceh Movement's (GAM) anniversary celebrations on Saturday, Gus Dur should have acquired an even better idea than before of how to go about finding a solution to problems in Aceh. He should go to Aceh and try to persuade the Acehnese to make peace.

Of course, Aceh is not the only problem area. Gus Dur should also give his full attention to other trouble spots such as Irian Jaya, Riau and Maluku. We can in this context understand why the issue of federalism has of late come to the fore. This, indeed, is one of the core problems we are facing and therefore it deserves to be earnestly deliberated.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta