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.