Govt criticized for no clear program on Aceh impasse

Govt criticized for no clear program on Aceh impasse

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Two respected Acehnese figures have
criticized the government of Indonesia for lacking concrete
programs to peacefully end the problems in the troubled province
of Aceh.

Imam Syuja', chairman of the Aceh branch of the second largest
Muslim organization Muhammadiyah and Maimul Fidar, the executive
director of the coalition of human rights nongovernmental
organizations on Aceh, shared a similar opinion on Friday that
"no wonder all efforts made by Indonesia had been fruitless due
to the absence of clear programs."

Both Imam and Maimul made the statements on Saturday when
asked to comment on President Megawati's address at the gala
dinner held by the United States-Indonesia Society in Washington
D.C. during her visit to the U.S. last Wednesday.

"I would like to reiterate that, at present, I am trying to
handle it (issue of Aceh) in a peaceful manner, through a
responsible political process without sacrificing the national
integrity of Indonesia," Megawati said in the forum.

Megawati also said that the issue of Aceh had attracted a lot
of international attention.

During the meeting with Megawati, U.S. President George W.
Bush promised that his government would provide Indonesia with a
lot of aid, including US$5 million for the rebuilding of
destroyed schools and infrastructure in Aceh.

Imam said in Banda Aceh that Megawati's determination to
handle the problems in Aceh through the political process
deserved support.

"But she should not have set any conditions for diplomatic
efforts to be made to end the problems."

"Just sit down together (with GAM) and start peaceful talks.
Please don't set conditions, or else GAM will also ask for
independence," he said, referring to part of Megawati's address
"...without sacrificing the national integrity of Indonesia."

"Any negotiations will end in deadlock if both parties set
extreme conditions. They should just begin peace talks with an
independent mediator," he said, citing Indonesia's role in the
talks between the government of the Philippines and the Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF).

A series of talks between GAM and the government have been
arranged both at home and abroad. Yet all the efforts have not
succeeded in stopping violence in Aceh.

In a separate interview, Maimul said that Megawati's
persistence at insisting on Indonesian integrity when resolving
Aceh's problems was understandable and correct.

"It's clear that Aceh is still part of the unitary state of
Indonesia," he said. "The problem is what program has been set
out to bring the conflict to an end."

"Whenever the government suggests peaceful dialog, the
military becomes offensive. The government has never organized an
integrated program to deal with Aceh."

Both Imam and Maimul also suggested that both the feuding
parties should step backward, establish a complete cease-fire
before holding more serious and democratic talks involving
independent parties, authorized to take action against those
violating the truce.

"What Acehnese people want now is peace, not more bloodshed.
They have lost trust in both GAM and the government and have been
waiting for 'something' that could end the prolonged feuds,"
Maimul said.

Thousands have been killed and scores of buildings and
infrastructure have been destroyed in the ongoing battle between
the Indonesian Military (TNI) and GAM members in recent years.

Natural resource rich Aceh has been seeking independence for
economic reasons as central government is considered unjust for
taking a large proportion of the province's revenues.

Starting July 19, the House of Representative has enacted a
law providing special autonomy for the province, with the new
name Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, which will receive 70 percent of
the province's oil and gas revenue. The old law regulated that
the province got 55 percent from oil and 40 percent from natural
gas produced in the province. (50/sur)