Dealing with peace in Aceh one step at a time

Dealing with peace in Aceh one step at a time

Free Aceh Movement (GAM) spokesman Bahtiar Abdullah lived in exile in Sweden for 23 years before finally returned to Aceh last month following the peace agreement signed between Indonesia and GAM. In an interview with The Jakarta Post's Nani Afrida in Banda Aceh, Bahtiar shared his views about the future of the province. The following is an excerpt of the interview.

Question: What is your plan after your return to Aceh?

Answer: After my return to Aceh, the most important thing is working to help implement this Memorandum of Understanding and to show our commitment to the implementation. The GAM leadership decided to send me here to help our friends implement the MOU in Aceh.

What is the difference between the present MOU and the previous agreements made between the Republic of Indonesia and GAM?

One obvious thing is the principle or the basis. In the present process, the basis is that nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon. So, once we reach an agreement on all the issues under negotiation, the process will be running by itself. Beyond our expectations, the implementation of this MOU on the ground has run well, including those processes that do not involve international parties.

The process of amnesty, for example, is running well. The decommissioning process has been going on for two stages and it will soon start with the third stage. Hopefully, this third stage will also work well.

How is important is the process of disseminating the contents of this MOU to ensure that, unlike in the case of previous agreements, there will be no difference in perceptions between GAM and the Republic of Indonesia?

I believe this mechanism is extremely important. The mechanism we need is a process of assuming responsibility, for example our responsibility toward GAM members. We must popularize this MOU with them and more generally among the Acehnese. It will be easier if this job is left to the Acehnese. If we use the Acehnese language, the broader public will find it easier to understand this MOU. I believe the public will support this particular means of communication. Should problems arise, a solution can be immediately sought.

What about GAM's involvement in the process of drafting the law governing the administration of Aceh?

Discussions have been held to this effect but are still not final yet. I myself have not seen the draft. I have held discussions with all my colleagues involved in the drafting of this law. They have told me that the process will soon be completed.

Does this bill on Aceh administration accommodate all of GAM's interests?

I believe all parties will have their interests accommodated in the bill just like what has happened with the MOU.

Which do you think will be the most complicated items in the MOU to implement on the ground?.

There are a lot of challenges but we should not take a negative or pessimistic attitude.

Can you be more specific ?

I believe that all items are difficult but we will implement them one by one. When we have completed one stage, we will move on to the next. After the destruction of the weapons, for example, we will start with the political and other stages. A commitment has been made in the regulations drafted that everything that will happen in Aceh in future will be in tune with the contents of the MOU. This is the reason why a new bill must be drafted for Aceh.

How about the victims of human rights abuses?

We will discuss this matter with all parties in the framework of the MOU. We should not jump to certain matters before it is time to deal with them. We must go through all the stages one by one. So, hopefully, this MOU can run well. Mutual confidence, for example, can be improved and mutual commitment can be established so that everything will take place in accordance with the right stage and time-line. As for these issues, when it is time to deal with them, we will deal with them more seriously and try to find the solution.

As for GAM, itself, does it trust the government now?

Ad for the problem of trust, it all depends on us. But the most important thing that the commitment is there. The government has opened up an opportunity and we have also witnessed peace on the ground. The people are not longer traumatized with the conflict and the tsunami disaster. This is the right moment for the rebuilding of self-confidence. It is this self-confidence rebuilding that is important right now.

What about the status of some 3,000 GAM combatants that have now returned to society?

We know from the previous AMM meetings that these combatants have received what they are entitled to, namely the reintegration fund. Reports have it that two stages of the distribution of this fund have been completed and that the third stage will soon start. Of course, if there are still some problems, but they will be discussed and dealt with.