Govt braces for peace accord to begin in Aceh

Govt braces for peace accord to begin in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Indonesia's permanent representative to
the United Nations in Geneva Hassan Wirajuda expressed guarded
optimism on Saturday that the humanitarian pause he signed with
the representative of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist
group on May 12 will work as smoothly as planned.

"If all parties exercise self-restraint and are aware of the
importance of the accord, I believe its implementation starting
on June 2 will run smoothly," he told media here on Saturday.

Hassan, who signed the agreement on the government's behalf in
Geneva, Switzerland, was in Aceh to hear the views of community
leaders, students and local authorities on the accord's
implementation.

His entourage included Usman Hasan, former Indonesian
ambassador to Mexico and Amran Zamzami, Acehnese community figure
and chairman of the independent inquiry team on human rights
abuse in Aceh.

Hassan was reportedly also slated to meet with GAM leaders on
Sunday.

The ambassador expressed hope that the two sides would comply
with agreements in the accord, regardless of the fact that at
least 28 people were killed in a series of violent confrontations
in Aceh after the peace accord signing.

Hassan said once the accord takes effect on June 2, all kinds
of violence should be put to a halt. But he admitted that the
agreement did not recommend any sanction to be applied to parties
violating the pact. There was also no agreement on troops'
withdrawal.

Despite the absence of legal sanctions, if any violation of
the accord could not be solved in the field, it would be brought
to a joint forum in Switzerland, he said.

Jakarta and GAM had agreed to form two committees, namely a
joint committee on humanitarian affairs and a joint committee on
security affairs.

"Hopefully, the formation of the two teams will be completed
next week, and before June 2 representatives of the government
and GAM can meet in Banda Aceh," he added.

Hostage

Meanwhile, state oil and gas company Pertamina said on Sunday
eight employees of Exxon Mobil (formerly Mobil Oil Indonesia) at
the Pase gas field in North Aceh were taken hostage by eight
armed civilians at 11 a.m. Saturday for Rp 4 billion (about
US$476,000) in ransom from the company.

But the gunmen released the workers later in the day at 3.50
p.m., spokesman for Pertamina's foreign contractors management
body (BPPKA) Sidick Nitikusuma told The Jakarta Post

"No injuries were reported. No money was given to the gunmen.
The gunmen treat the hostages well and voluntarily released them
after a negotiation with the hostages," Sidick said.

Sidick said the content of the negotiation remained unclear
but the armed gang promised to return to pick up the money.

According to Sidick, the eight gunmen slipped into the gas
field when the eight workers just arrived for their morning
shift.

The gunmen then locked the workers up in the control room and
demanded that the ransom be delivered by 3 a.m..

But, Sidick said, the hostages managed to convince the gunmen
that it was impossible to meet their demand.

Spokesman for the armed wing of GAM Ismail Syahputra, denied
involvement in the kidnapping. "I have checked it with our
members on the ground and there has been no such abduction that
they have committed," Ismail said. (50/edt/jsk)