Government may extend humanitarian pause in Aceh

Government may extend humanitarian pause in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): The government looks likely to sign a three-
month extension on a humanitarian pause in Aceh but said it would
demand the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) begin talking
substantively on settling the problems.

However a final decision on the accord, which expires on
Saturday, is likely to be made by President Abudurrahman Wahid
himself.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday the government's
position is that it is willing to extend the pause as part of a
conflict resolution process with the aim of finding a more
constructive measure to solve Aceh's problems.

"We can agree to extend the pause on several conditions in the
name of finding a constructive way to solve the problem under the
concept of a unified state of Indonesia," Susilo told
journalists.

Susilo said President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri are still discussing a fair and
comprehensive recommendation, along with further arrangements
with GAM.

"Tomorrow maybe there will be further talks with GAM on the
requirements we requested if we want to extent the pause," Susilo
said.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said the government
expects GAM to start talking about the issues of substance, at
least a month after the second phase of the pause, if the
government decides to extend it.

"At least in four weeks time we should start to talk about how
we are going to settle the issue. We are open to discuss all
possibilities but a referendum for freedom is not one of them,"
Alwi asserted.

Earlier on Thursday, the signatory of the pause Hassan
Wirajuda said Jakarta will be ready to provide all kinds of
"possibilities" for GAM to reach a political solution for Aceh.

"There is a lot we can offer them but freedom is definitely
not one of them," Hassan said without elaborating.

Excuses

Meanwhile in Aceh, GAM spokesman Tengku Maad Muda warned the
government against making too many excuses on the question of
extending the humanitarian pause.

"RI (Republic of Indonesia) better not make too many
justifications by saying that GAM violated the truce and
committed loads of violence while security authorities also
conducted similar wrongdoings," Maad said in the Pidie regency on
Friday.

Maad was referring to earlier remarks from Alwi Shihab and
Hassan Wirajuda about GAM breaching the ground rules of the
humanitarian pause.

"For us, it's okay if the truce is terminated or prolonged.
Let a neutral, international observer like the Henry Dunant
Center give their judgment," Maad added.

Meanwhile, the Pidie regency was paralyzed on Friday as most
people stayed home or gathered in mosques following a call from
the armed wing commander of GAM Tengku Abdullah Syafiie that all
Acehnese perform a fast and pray for three days starting Sept. 1
"in a bid to smooth the way for Aceh's independence".

All shops, school and business activities were closed and no
public transportation was operating.

A quiet Friday was also reported in Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe
in North Aceh.

Police and military, however, were seen stepping up their
patrol operations on Friday in villages near Glumpang Tiga
district in Pidie, which is known as a stronghold of GAM.

On Wednesday, three civilians were killed and at least three
others injured when a band of unidentified gunmen raided and
burned six houses and nine vehicles in Jagong Jeget village in
Linge of Central Aceh in the early hours of Wednesday, bringing
the death toll to at least 70 since the pause took effect on June
2. (50/51/edt/dja)