Foreign observers in Aceh to monitor likely peace deal
Foreign observers in Aceh to monitor likely peace deal
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
Foreign observers arriving in Aceh to assess a likely peace deal
between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) went
ahead with their schedule on Wednesday amid growing calls from
legislators not to internationalize the conflict in the province.
Arriving in Banda Aceh late on Tuesday, the 12-member European
Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
team met with public figures, religious leaders and NGO
representatives ahead of talks with Aceh Military Commander Major
General Supiadin.
"The team want to see the infrastructure here (to find out
what's needed) once the peace deal is made between the government
and GAM," State Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan
A. Djalil, who accompanied the team, said in Banda Aceh on
Wednesday.
The team, he added, also wanted to see how far
telecommunication facilities are operational, a complicated task
considering the massive damage left by the tsunami.
In the fourth round of talks in Helsinki in May, the
government and GAM agreed to allow representatives from the EU
and ASEAN to observe the implementation of any peace agreement
that might be achieved in the latest round of talks.
The team's arrival, however, was criticized by legislators,
saying it added insult to injury and urged the government to stop
the talks with GAM after the last round of negotiations failed to
resolve crucial issues.
They were also against the inclusion of foreign parties in the
Helsinki talks, which they said was an attempt to
internationalize the problems in Aceh.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla responded to the critics on
Tuesday, expressing his confidence in the ongoing peace talks
with separatist rebels in Aceh.
"In our history, we've always resolved problems through
dialog," Kalla was quoted by Antara as saying. "Hopefully this
(Aceh) problem can also be settled (with dialog)."
"If there is no conflict, then the TNI (Indonesian military)
will return to their home bases with pleasure, to their
respective battalions for rest and training."
The observers are scheduled to be in Aceh for two days,
conducting field trips to various areas, including Aceh Besar,
Aceh Pidie, Aceh Birueun, Lhokseumawe, Langsa and Kutacane.
Apart from meeting with public figures as well as police and
military officials in Aceh, the observers will also visit
tsunami-hit areas, including Ulee Lheue. The team also began a
helicopter tour of Aceh that will continue on Thursday after an
overnight stop in Medan, North Sumatra.
"The team will first observe, but the most important thing is
whether we can reach a peace deal in Aceh," Sofyan said.
The team's visit coincided with fresh violence in the
province, where almost 30 years of insurgency has claimed
thousands of lives. The latest incident took place when gunmen
shot the head of the south Aceh village of Simpang and his wife
in front of their children just hours before the team's arrival,
AFP reported.
South Aceh Military Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Jamhur
Ismail, said the gunmen, numbering five and wearing military
fatigues and masks, were from GAM. Rebel officials could not be
immediately reached for comment.