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.