GAM, RI charged over truce violations

GAM, RI charged over truce violations

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Joint Security Committee (JSC) responsible for overseeing the
implementation of the peace accord in Aceh has sanctioned both
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and Indonesia for serious violations
of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by both sides in
Geneva on Dec. 9, 2002.

The tripartite body implementing the peace accord handed down
sanctions against GAM for two serious violations committed by its
members and against Indonesia for one serious violation committed
by security personnel.

The JSC noted that the three cases marked the first time ever
that both sides had publicly admitted their own wrongdoing since
the signing of the peace accord.

"Both sides came together to agree that the conduct by members
of their respective sides in the field was unacceptable and
violated the peace agreement. This not only shows faith in the
process, it's also a huge symbolic step toward making Aceh a safe
and peaceful place to live," Gen. Tanongsuk Tuvinun, JSC Senior
Envoy, said in a statement the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) made
available to The Jakarta Post here on Friday.

GAM was sanctioned for two serious violations -- an attack by
rebels on eight security personnel in Lokop, East Aceh, on Jan.
14, and an armed attack on two soldiers in Lammo, West Aceh, on
Jan. 16.

A soldier was killed and another one was injured in the Lokop
incident, while one soldier was wounded in the Lammo incident.

Indonesia was sanctioned for intimidation arising out of an
incident where a member of the Mobile Brigade paramilitary police
threatened a GAM representative on a monitoring team while he and
the team's driver were witnessing a confrontation between
students and security personnel in Bireuen on Jan. 14.

Tuvinun, however, said that the joint committee he was
chairing had entrusted both sides to impose physical sanctions
against the truce violators.

"It is now up to each party to discipline the violators ...
This is about recognizing the problems, taking steps to fix them
and making the process accountable to the people of Aceh," he
explained.

He said the JSC, which according to the peace accord has the
authority to investigate all manner of truce violations and to
prosecute violators, would look into all violations of the
accord.

Indonesia has recorded some 50 violations committed by GAM and
they have been filed with the tripartite monitoring committee for
further investigation.