GAM to attend governance seminar

GAM to attend governance seminar

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Up to 1,500 people will attend a two-day
seminar starting on Tuesday in Banda Aceh to discuss the future
shape of the province's government following the Helsinki peace
agreement signed on Aug. 15.

The participants will include former members of the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), academics, bureaucrats, non-governmental
organization (NGO) activists and local councillors, said a
spokesman for Aceh province, Teuku Pribadi, on Saturday.

High up on the order of business would be proposed amendments
to the Aceh Special Autonomy Law (No. 18/2001), said Pribadi.

Currently, a white paper setting out the amendments was being
drafted by academics from the Syiah Kuala Darussalam University,
Ar-Raniry State Islamic Institute and Malikusaleh University,
said Pribadi. The document would be discussed at the seminar and
the results of this discussion conveyed to the House of
Representatives in Jakarta for consideration. -- Antara