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)