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