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)