Democracy, not war, would limit GAM's influence

Democracy, not war, would limit GAM's influence

On May 9 The Jakarta Post held a panel discussion on Aceh with
former Indonesian Military (TNI) general affairs chief Lt.Gen.
(ret.) Suaidi Marassabessy, former state minister of human rights
Hasballah M. Sa'ad, sociologist Otto Syamsuddin Ishak -- both
Acehnese -- and military analyst Kusnanto Anggoro. After
publishing the views of Suaidi and Hasballah on Monday and
Tuesday, the Post is running the following two articles based on
Otto's presentation:

Aceh's history of opposition once benefited Indonesia, when it
was the Acehnese who accepted the emergency government of the
republic in its fledgling years. They contributed to the
government to enable it to operate and also helped to financially
support the procurement of military equipment in the early days.

Indonesia, now a great country, can exploit Aceh's natural
resources without its permission. It has generals far greater
than Aceh's sons and daughters such as Teungku Cik Di Tiro and
Cut Nyak Dhien. And it can decide anytime when to go to war with
Aceh. People, meanwhile, have remained in a state of war since
the time of their forefathers. The imminent war will contribute
even more to the sense of their "Acehneseness".

After 1998, demands to settle human rights violations, efforts
toward democracy and the special autonomy were aimed at returning
dignity to the Acehnese; all these tested the seriousness (of the
central government) yet (the demands) were not realized, hence
the Acehnese remain in opposition to Jakarta.

So how can a military operation conquer their hearts and
minds? With the Acehnese, you cannot engage in physical contact
and only touch their hearts. Weapons can only take out their
hearts ... All males in Aceh, from 14 years old upward, have
experienced being slapped in the face by the military.

One must therefore differentiate between the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) and the rest of the people who are in opposition
to Jakarta. Let the people's voices be heard, just help guard
their rallies, in an effort to separate the people from GAM.
Don't label them or they could really become GAM!

Thus, what is needed is to open up public space. Why was there
no shooting when field offices of the Joint Security Committee
(JSC) were destroyed while small rallies have been shot at? If
people cannot channel their aspirations through nonviolent ways
they will become radical.

If there is an opportunity to review the COHA, what could be
done? Disputing parties should no longer be armed except at their
posts; public space should be opened up and a direct election
should be held as soon as possible. Investigation and legal
process of human rights violations would actually be the main
weapon to separate the people from GAM.

If once Aceh contributed capital for Indonesia's independence,
all the above suggestions could also become a political asset for
democratization. GAM should also be given a political concession
as long as it is willing to continue negotiations, such as in the
form of a political party.

Expanding the public's space, or democratization, not a
military operation, would limit the space of GAM.