GAM still eyeing independence in 2004 election

GAM still eyeing independence in 2004 election

Nani Farida and Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta

One crucial block to lasting peace in Aceh remains unresolved as
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) implies it wants the 2004 general
election to decide on Aceh's independence, but the Indonesian
Government has explicitly said no to that.

GAM negotiator Teuku Kamaruzzaman said the recent peace accord
GAM signed with the Indonesian government did discuss the details
of a political process in Aceh to which both sides had agreed to
once hostility between them ended

"We (GAM and the government) have different aspirations but we
agreed to accommodate them through a political democratic
process," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

He did not elaborate on GAM's aspiration but chief negotiator
Abdullah Zaini had said earlier that negotiations with Indonesia
rested on its goal for an independent state of Aceh.

Kamaruzzaman also declined to use the word referendum or self
determination, explaining that the mechanism for the 2004
election was not part of the agreement.

He said the context of the election was left open for further
negotiation and emphasized that Monday's agreement centered on
ending the hostility and not resolving political differences.

Called the Cessation of Hostility Framework Agreement, the
peace accord marks the most promising breakthrough so far in the
two and a half years of negotiation with GAM.

According to the 6-page document, both sides would work toward
ending their hostility to pave the way for an All-Inclusive
dialog. The dialog will comprise a cross-section of Acehnese
society and will eventually lead to the "election of a democratic
government in Aceh, Indonesia," the agreement states.

The first article stipulates Aceh's special autonomy law as
the agreement's starting point. This would imply GAM's acceptance
of Aceh remaining part of Indonesia. Yet Kamaruzzaman denied
that, and referred to the upcoming election as where "the
aspirations of the Acehnese will be accommodated under a
political process."

While the agreement says: "In order to meet the aspirations of
the people of Acheh and permit them to administer themselves
freely and democratically, the GOI (Government of Indonesia) and
GAM agree to a process which leads to an election in 2004 and the
subsequent establishment of a democratically elected government
in Acheh, Indonesia, in accordance with the review of the NAD
(Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam) Law, as provided for in point 1 of the
10 May 2002 Joint Statement."

The government has repeatedly emphasized that the upcoming
All-Inclusive dialog and the 2004 general election would be held
under the context of staying within the state of Indonesia.

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said the 2004 general election
would be part of the national election without exception.

"It's part of the national election ... GAM might participate
as a political party," he was quoted as saying by SCTV
television.

The contradicting statements underscore the tough road ahead
for both sides in coming to a conclusive agreement of which
Monday's peace accord was just the start.

"This (deal) is only the start of bringing two extreme poles
of aspirations together; we must let this process go through its
phases," Kamaruzzaman said. "I'd say now we focus on what we have
(the peace agreement) and stop the hostility."

GAM started its independence fight in 1976 in a war that has
left more than 1,700 people dead this year alone. Throughout the
war, most of the victims have been civilians.