Government talks peace while military talks war

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some 23 countries are planning to hold a meeting in Tokyo on Dec. 3 to discuss possible financial aid for rehabilitation and reconstruction in Aceh, but no representatives of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have been invited to the talks.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said here on Tuesday that the military would launch an attack on GAM if it went ahead with its plan to commemorate the anniversary of its founding on Dec. 4.

Endriartono stressed that the TNI wanted a peaceful solution to the Aceh conflict, but if GAM insisted on an independent Aceh, then as "we (Indonesians) are against the separation, the TNI will crush them," Endriartono said at a breaking of the fast gathering with journalists and high-ranking TNI officers.

The TNI chief also warned that the security forces would continue their siege of a GAM stronghold in Cot Trieng, North Aceh, until the rebels agreed to the peace deal scheduled for signing on Dec. 9.

Representatives from the Indonesian government and GAM are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Dec. 9 to sign the peace pact. GAM backed off from an earlier plan promoted by the Indonesian government to have the peace deal signed in early November.

Despite announcing a Ramadhan cease-fire and its stated commitment to a non-military solution to the Aceh conflict, GAM seems to be continuing to build up arms. The Indonesian Navy said on Tuesday it sank two Thai ships being used to smuggle arms to GAM.

Rear Adm. Djoko Sumaryono said as quoted by Antara that the two ships were Thai fishing vessels believed to have been pirated last week by members of GAM to smuggle arms into the Aceh.

The ships were flying Indonesian flags and were reportedly pirated in the Straits of Malacca. He said that crew members held hostage on board the vessels by the separatist rebels were rescued, Antara reported.

"The Indonesian Navy's western fleet fired on and sank two ships carrying smuggled arms. The ships opened fire and our fleet had to send them to the deep," Antara quoted Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh as saying.

More than 11,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have died as a result of clashes, torture and revenge tactics in Aceh over the past decade. Human rights groups say more than 1,200 have died this year alone in Aceh.

Earlier on Tuesday, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the 23 countries due to gather in Tokyo included members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), ASEAN, as well as several Western countries such as Germany, France, and Denmark.

"There will also be six Acehnese representing the province, while the HDC will attend the meeting to represent the aspirations of GAM," Susilo told, referring to the Swiss-based Henry Dunant Center, which has been facilitating peace talks between the Indonesian government and GAM for almost two years.

Asked why GAM had not been invited to the meeting, Susilo said: "GAM does not represent an independent country, and Aceh province is still part of Indonesia."

Susilo's remark came after a meeting at his office with 23 ambassadors to discuss several key points for the planned meeting in Tokyo, which is being sponsored by Japan, the U.S. and the World Bank.

"During the meeting, we also briefed the ambassadors on the progress in Aceh, as well as the fate of the peace talks through our facilitator, the HDC, and the agenda that we will follow should both parties -- the government and GAM -- sign the peace agreement in Geneva on Dec. 9," Susilo told the press.

He also explained the outline of the agreement, including a plan to undertake post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation in the province, but underlined that "we will continue our operation to manage and stop the armed conflict there over the next six months."

He did not elaborate on what such a security operation would entail.

From 1989 to 1998, Aceh was designated a special military operations area (DOM). During this period thousands of people, mostly civilians, died as a result of clashes, torture and acts of vengeance.

The conflict has also left thousands of orphans and widows who badly need social assistance.

The government has repeatedly claimed that it has failed to rebuild Aceh because of continuous attacks blamed on GAM.

Despite it being Indonesia's richest western province, Aceh will likely become the second province in the country to receive World Bank financial aid due to the prolonged armed conflict.

Previously, donors from around the world pledged US$523 million in aid to Indonesia's former province of East Timor after pro-Jakarta militiamen went on a rampage, reportedly killing up to 1,000 people and devastating towns, following a vote for independence from Indonesia in August 1999.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador Yutaka Iimura, who was present at the meeting in the minister's office, said the Tokyo meeting was expected to be the first in a series of meetings on various issues concerning the Aceh problem.

"I think a peaceful solution is the best way for Aceh so as to allow for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh," Iimura said.

Iimura declined to put a figure on the total funds that might be provided by donor countries.