Anxiety clouds Aceh as peace talks canceled

Anxiety clouds Aceh as peace talks canceled

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh

Following the cancellation of a Joint Council meeting between the
government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the military in Aceh
has been put on high alert while awaiting possible deployments
orders.

Residents of Aceh are now living under the cloud of the
possible resumption of hostilities between the military and
rebels.

Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf
announced here on Friday that all combat troops in the province
had been put on high alert to prepare them for deployment if
President Megawati Soekarnoputri orders the military to launch a
military operation.

"Although a red alert has been declared, we are still in
defensive positions waiting for an order from Jakarta," he told
local and foreign journalists.

He added that the red alert was only for security personnel,
not for civilians.

Djali said that where the 1989-1998 military operation in the
province was massive, any operation that was launched now would
take place in stages.

He said earlier that any new military operation would take six
months.

The government decided not to send representatives to the
Joint Council meeting scheduled for April 25 in Geneva because
GAM insisted the meeting be held on April 27.

Angered by GAM's insistence on the meeting's date, top
security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government
would no longer bow down to GAM.

The government called for the Joint Council meeting to discuss
violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement the two
sides signed in Geneva on Dec. 9, 2002, through the mediation of
the Henry Dunant Centre. The government has accused GAM of
failing to lay down its arms and of violating the peace agreement
by collecting taxes from the Acehnese people and campaigning for
independence.

Residents of Aceh regretted the cancellation of the Joint
Council meeting, saying it was a clear signal that war would soon
begin in the province.

Ipul, 31, a pedicab driver near the Banda Aceh Grand Mosque,
said he hoped the peace process would continue because his daily
income was dropping sharply as tension in the province escalated.

"Residents in the city are afraid to leave their houses,
especially at night," he said.

Fauzan, 35, a food vendor in the city, was frustrated by the
prospect of resumed military operations.

"What are we? We are just ordinary people who can do nothing
to change the situation," he said.

The situation in the declared peace zone in the Indrapuri
district in Aceh Besar regency, some 23 kilometers east of Banda
Aceh, was much the same as in the provincial capital.

Although the security situation was normal, residents could
not hide their concern. A sign bearing the words "peace zone" had
been painted over with the words "war zone".

"I don't know who painted the sign. Surely, he or she does not
want peace in Aceh," said Maimunah, 56, a cucumber vendor.

Muhammad, a resident of Indrapuri district, said: "I don't
know what will happen if war breaks out. Maybe we will all
starve."

Meanwhile, two members of GAM were killed during a raid by
security forces in the village of Ulee Jalan, Banda Aceh
district, North Aceh regency, at dawn on Friday.

"They were shot by security personnel," GAM spokesman Teungku
Jamaika said.

Lhokseumawe Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Daryanto confirmed
two people had been shot and killed, saying the pair often
extorted money from local residents.