Govt, GAM agree on more talks
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Negotiators from the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) wound up two days of talks in Helsinki on Saturday without a concrete result on how to end the decades-long war in Aceh, but pledged to meet again soon to seek a peace deal.
However, just hours before the leaders decided to agree on another round of negotiations, the Indonesian Military (TNI) killed four GAM rebels in a skirmish in an Aceh village, a move that could potentially threaten any new peace talks.
Government officials and exiled leaders of GAM, meeting for the first time in nearly two years, said their Finnish mediator Crisis Management Initiative would convene another meeting "in the near future" to discuss what an Indonesian minister called "a comprehensive peace settlement".
The delegations emerged from talks focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Aceh, where approximately 230,000 people were killed in the Dec. 26 tidal wave, saying the next round of talks would deal with their major political differences.
"We have an in-principle agreement to meet again in the near future to discuss a comprehensive peace settlement under the umbrella of self-autonomy," State Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan Djalil was quoted by Reuters.
From Helsinki, GAM political official Mohammed Nur Djuli refused to describe the meeting as deadlocked, only saying that "both parties have agreed to meet in another meeting some time next month."
"There were some differences (of views) between the two delegations. Of course, it was just an informal meeting aimed at exploring common ground before we move forward to firmer talks," Mohammed told The Jakarta Post by phone from Helsinki on Sunday.
Mohammed acknowledged that the two sides had come up with their own concepts of dialog during the meeting. The GAM delegation insisted on a formal implementation of a cease-fire to facilitate humanitarian relief operation in Aceh.
"Any kind of political talks can be held in another meeting," he said.
He said that the Indonesian government delegation had made several offers to end the conflict in Aceh, including amnesty for GAM members, the actual implementation of the special autonomy law for Aceh and also an economic compensation package.
"For sure, it would be improper for us to drop the offers. So we responded by saying that we would study the offers first. But, again, it was not an agreement," said Mohammed, who now resides in Malaysia and was also active during the previous peace talks in Tokyo, which collapsed in 2003, and prompted the government to impose martial law in Aceh, allowing the TNI to launch its largest offensive ever against the GAM rebels.
He said that the CMI would arrange the second meeting, likely to take place again in Helsinki on Feb. 21.
Political analyst Salim Said said that although no formal agreement was reached, the fact that GAM was willing to pursue more talks in the future was, in itself, a breakthrough.
"Past negotiations between the Indonesian government and GAM simply fizzled out without reaching any agreement, however informal. What the Helsinki talks have achieved is a success," he told The Post.
He said that with this new development, the TNI should restrain itself from pressing GAM further against the wall.
"Continuing offensives against GAM must be put to a halt so that they will not have an excuse to renege on their pledge in the future. Such an offensive is also unnecessary, as GAM is currently under tremendous pressure from the international community to not hamper the relief efforts," he said.
Prominent Acehnese academic Hasballah M. Saad said: "This is positive progress and must be appreciated by both sides."