Foreign supervisors needed for Aceh peace talks

Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel group narrowed their differences when they concluded on Tuesday their fourth round of informal talks aimed at seeking enduring peace in Aceh. Both sides also agreed to resume negotiations in July, before a peace deal, if there is to be one, is struck. The Jakarta Post's Tiarma Siboro and other journalists got a chance to talk to government negotiator Sofyan Djalil about the peace prospects. The following is an excerpt.

Question: Lawmakers did not agree with the involvement of a foreign monitoring team in the Aceh problems. What is your comment?

Answer: There is no such intervention nor involvement of foreign countries in the Aceh case. The truth is both the Indonesian delegation and leadership of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have agreed that a monitoring team involving a foreign country will be necessary to supervise and observe whether or not each party follows the agreement by carrying out their tasks properly. I don't think that the monitoring team is in any way a form of foreign intervention.

Is it true that nearly 90 percent of the crucial issues on Aceh have been worked out by both delegation teams?

One could say so. There is a mutual understanding between the two parties, and we (the Indonesian delegation) are now codifying a draft on common ground that has been reached at the negotiating table. Of course, such a draft isn't a final agreement.

Can you elaborate?

During the series of meetings, both the Indonesian delegation and GAM leadership have discussed all the problems that have been raised ever since the conflict began in Aceh. I must admit that we have yet to reach a common understanding over several crucial points, but, of course, there are more issues where we have reached a mutual understanding. Take amnesty, for example. We have agreed to grant it to Aceh prisoners. Principally, we are looking for a comprehensive settlement for Aceh and it should be based on Indonesia's Constitution and existing laws. Hopefully both parties can reach an agreement to bridge the differences.

How about the security arrangement?

It is quite simple. Once the peace deal has been reached, it will not necessitate the presence of Acehnese armed forces. This, of course, will mean that the government will not deploy troops outside Aceh to the territory. The problem is, the government needs to deploy that many troops and police personnel to Aceh because of the presence of the armed separatist movement in the province. The withdrawal of the troops and police personnel must be done in tandem with GAM's decision to drop its arms. All things must be parallel, and, indeed, we need the monitoring team to supervise the process. Of course, this is just an idea which we leave to the Indonesian government and the GAM leadership to decide.

How about the idea of establishing a local political party?

I wish both the Indonesian delegation and GAM leadership could accommodate this issue. As part of the Indonesian government, we are only authorized to continue the discussion on the issue within the parameters of Indonesian law and we are now dealing with this matter; so is the GAM leadership.

Why is the government so worried about allowing the Acehnese to have their own political parties?

Because our existing laws do not accommodate it. If GAM insists on establishing a local political party, then we must review our legislation. In the case of Aceh, the government has granted a special autonomy status. It is part of our existing laws. Whether we should revise it or not, we have yet to discuss this.

We have to find a way that enables GAM members to channel their political aspirations. It remains unclear whether we will decide that GAM members should channel their political aspiration through other political parties that already exist. But, one thing which is certain is we are seeking any means possible to create peace in Aceh.