Allowing GAM to take part in election might end violence

Allowing GAM to take part in election might end violence

Nani Farida and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta

Acehnese figures welcomed on Monday a proposal to allow the
separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to participate in elections,
saying it would bolster efforts for a peaceful and fair solution
to problems in the province.

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh, meanwhile, confirmed that talks
between representatives of GAM and Jakarta would take place on
Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 in Geneva.

Bachtiar Aly, an analyst on Acehnese affairs, said a political
approach would gain much support because it would have the
potential to reduce casualties and bring about a peaceful
solution.

"That (idea) will be acceptable among the public because it
offers a lower social cost," said Bachtiar here on Monday,
referring to the many casualties resulted from gunfights in the
province over the years.

Acehnese politician Ghazali Abbas Adan concurred with
Bachtiar, saying that the most important thing was that peace
could be restored in Aceh.

Both, however, emphasized that Jakarta played a major role in
determining whether or not the separatist group would be allowed
to contest elections.

The idea to give GAM a chance to participate in elections was
recently aired by Smita Notosusanto from the Center for Electoral
Reform (Cetro).

She said GAM should be put to the test to determine whether or
not it really enjoy widespread support from the people, and that
an election could serve as a test for GAM as to whether or not it
could solicit support through peaceful means.

Smita added that allowing GAM to contest elections would serve
as an incentive to the separatist group to lay down its arms and
end hostilities.

If GAM wins a local election, it would have the opportunity to
obtain positions in the provincial and district administration.

But a GAM spokesman, Teuku, Kamaruzzaman rejected the idea,
saying that it would not solve the basic problems in Aceh.

He, however, emphasized that the conflict in Aceh was not a
social conflict, therefore the proposal would not solve the
problems.

"The most accurate solution is a self-determination vote
through a referendum. We will see whether or not people in Aceh
want independence," Kamaruzzaman told The Jakarta Post.

Bachtiar, who will soon take up an ambassadorial post in
Egypt, emphasized that whether or not GAM became a political
party was only a means, not the ultimate goal.

The most important goal, he said, was the creation of peace in
the resource-rich province.

According to him, both GAM and Jakarta should continue to
follow up the agreement between the two camps made in May, which
said that GAM accepted Jakarta's offer of greater autonomy for
Aceh and vowed to end violence.

During the dialog, the government and GAM agreed that Law
No.18/2001 on Nangroe Aceh Darussalam could be used as a starting
point for an Aceh resolution.

The law gives special autonomy to Aceh, allowing it to
implement Islamic sharia law and retain a greater share of its
oil and gas revenues.

"Whether or not GAM will become a political party will depend
on further talks," Bachtiar added.

Ghazali, co-chairman of the splinter United Development Party
(PPP) Reformasi, added that he fully backed the idea to promote
GAM as a political party.

Allowing GAM to contest elections, Ghazali said, would mean
government recognition of the group, which in turn would help
reduce violence.