GAM should become political party, join elections

GAM should become political party, join elections

How strong is the support of Acehnese people for the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM)? It depends. GAM claims it enjoys widespread
support from eventually all Acehnese people, while the Indonesian
military (TNI) plays it down, saying that GAM fighters and their
supporters account for a few thousand only. The crux of the
matter is nobody knows for sure. Smita Notosusanto of the Center
for Electoral Reform (Cetro) suggests that GAM could become a
political party and join elections in order to prove its
strength, and to resolve the Aceh question once and for all.

To find out more about the proposal, The Jakarta Post's
reporter Kanis Dursin interviewed Smita on her way back to
Jakarta from Tamiang, East Aceh where Cetro organized a simulated
election earlier this week. The following is an excerpt from the
interview.

Question: How can an election resolve the Aceh question?

Answer: I think one of the prominent motives behind GAM is
power, which is basically a political motive. Unfortunately, the
issue of power has not been included in peace talks. So far, the
demand has been ending hostility but I think there should be an
incentive for ending hostilities. If GAM are given incentives
like allowing them to contest elections, maybe there will be
incentives for GAM to lay down their arms. GAM should be given a
test to determine whether or not they really enjoy widespread
support from the people and an election could serve as a test for
GAM as to whether or not they can solicit support through
peaceful means.

So GAM has to become a political party to contest the
elections?

That is one of the recommendations. GAM can also nominate
their leaders or cadres as candidates for heads of regional
governments. I'm sure they enjoy strong support in certain areas
only.

It means their existence has to be guaranteed?

Yes, they should be allowed to campaign in their respective
areas. I doubt if they have widespread support in Aceh to take
the gubernatorial post. For mayors and regents, they have power
and support in several places only. They should be fully
recognized and have equal rights with other participants of the
elections.

What are the conditions?

They (GAM) have to lay down their arms. Their candidates
should also be free from any crimes and are willing to give
guarantee funds and meet other requirements as candidates. And
for the military, there should no military operations whatsoever
during election time beginning with the registration period until
vote counting.

Who should organize the election?

Since these are elections for heads of regional
administrations, regional governments have to organize the
elections through an independent provincial election commission.
The commission is also in charge of the election of local
legislature members.

How realistic is this suggestion?

I am sure that this can be done in Aceh if there is the
political will on the part of the government. I still question
whether there is the political will in the central government,
security personnel and regional governments. I feel there is no
political will whatsoever on the part of the government. There
should be the political will to open up an opportunity for all
quarters to fight non-violently. What is happening now is a
political fight is being shifted into forests and the military.
There has been no political will towards resolving the conflicts
through elections. The only venue has been the talks in Geneva
which I think are insufficient. We have to recognize their
existence because they will join the election within the
framework of the unitary state of Indonesia. So, we have to open
up the opportunity, not GAM, and don't force GAM to recognize
Nanggroe Aceh Darussaslam (NAD) first. It is a bit strange to ask
GAM to recognize NAD before continuing peace talks.

Why do you think the government has not taken that road?

Because the government still sticks to the ideology that
separatism should be wiped out completely. Never has the
government thought that the Aceh separatist movement is a sign of
dissatisfaction and disappointment which has been manipulated by
GAM promoting independence as the solution. I think the central
government is trapped in these manipulations. The government
should have done more by saying 'okay we can engage you in
elections but you cannot become independent'. The central
government is in the position to be more generous because we want
them to cross over to our side.

What would hinder implementing this proposal?

The main hindrance is that the central government still does
not see that there is a possibility of a breakthrough if it
places GAM as an equal entity with the government. The government
always says no, we are a state and they are just armed groups.
So, if that is the case, there will never be a breakthrough. They
(GAM) want recognition. I think recognizing them does not cost us
anything. In fact, we might gain a lot because there is a chance
that they would come to our side if they are given the
opportunity to participate in elections.