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.