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