GAM asked to respect humanitarian pause

GAM asked to respect humanitarian pause

JAKARTA (JP): The government on Tuesday called on the
separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to respect the extended
humanitarian pause in the restive province to allow for talks on
a comprehensive political solution to the region's woes.

Secretary to the coordinating minister for political, social
and security affairs, Karyono, said the government agreed to the
truce's extension but expected GAM to respect it by stopping
violence.

"During the extended pause, GAM must stop its violence and
intimidation of local people and security and government
apparatus. It should also stop its propaganda and provocative
actions," he said after a meeting of ministers under the
jurisdiction of the coordinating minister for political, social
and security affairs here on Tuesday.

Government and GAM representatives agreed in Geneva on Sunday
evening to extend the cease-fire till January and begin a dialog
on a possible solution.

The government maintains that any solution must be discussed
within the context of Aceh as being an integral part of
Indonesia.

Local and foreign journalists expressed their dissatisfaction
with Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his unavailability to
explain the meeting's results.

Karyono said the coordinating minister could not brief the
media on the meeting because he was receiving guests and,
besides, it was unnecessary for him to do so.

Earlier, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said the meeting
was to discuss three crucial issues, namely the bomb blasts in
Jakarta, the slaying of the three UN aid workers in Atambua and
the latest developments in Aceh.

Also attending the meeting were home affairs and regional
autonomy minister Surjadi Sudirdja, manpower and transmigration
minister Al-Hilal Hamdi, resettlement and regional infrastructure
minister Erna Witoelar, maritime development minister Sarwono
Kusumaatmadja and Indonesian Military Commander Adm. Widodo
Adisutjipto.

Karyono said the government would be more strict with GAM if
it failed to comply with the terms of the agreement.

"The humanitarian pause will become automatically void if the
conditions are not complied with and the government will take
strict action if GAM continues with its violence and terror," he
said.

He added the government condemned the recent bomb attacks on
military buildings and murders of members of the security forces
and local figures.

He said GAM had continually intimidated local people to force
them to become refuges to attract international attention to the
province. The total number of refugees has reached more than
26,000, he added.

Karyono said that during the truce, the government would
gradually enforce the law and improve its humanitarian assistance
to people in the province, especially refugees.

"The government is committed to resettling the refugees and
helping them rebuild their houses, creating more job
opportunities and promoting equality in the local development
program," he said.

The government would also ask the military to intensify its
civic work mission to help build infrastructure in the region,
including schools and houses of worship, to support the economic
development program in the province, he said. (rms)