Govt, GAM set to sign peace deal on December 9
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh
Following a 26-year armed conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives, mostly civilians, the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) agreed on Tuesday to sign a peace agreement on Dec. 9, 2002.
The Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), which has been facilitating talks between Indonesia and GAM since 2000, said in a press release made available to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the date for the signing ceremony had been set after it met with GAM leaders in Stockholm.
"We are confident that the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement are very much committed to reaching an agreement. A few issues need to be resolved but we are planning for the signing of a peace agreement on Dec. 9, 2002," the HDC said.
The government and GAM also confirmed that both sides had agreed on a tentative deal to end the armed conflict.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Jakarta that the government sincerely wanted peace but that disagreements remained over the mechanism for disarmament, and the role of the police and army under a cease-fire.
"God willing, a peaceful solution will soon become a reality in the province after we (the government and GAM) sign the agreement, which is planned to take place in Geneva," he said during a press conference at his office.
Both sides' agreement to the peace deal is expected to end the 20-day siege by the military of GAM leaders and rebels in Cot Trieng, North Aceh. Following the signing, a cease-fire will be implemented and GAM rebels are expected to lay down their arms while an increasing number of security personnel will be pulled out of the province.
On the coming into effect of the cease-fire, inclusive, all- Aceh talks involving all components of Acehnese society, including GAM, will be held to seek a comprehensive solution to the Aceh issue.
Yudhoyono said agreement had been reached on democratic reform in the province, including direct gubernatorial elections "to ensure the broadest participation of all elements of Acehnese society."
Yudhoyono said the implication of the peace deal was very clear: that GAM had abandoned its long-held dream of independence in favor of accepting the autonomy already granted to the oil- and gas-rich province.
"If they accept the special autonomy, then it means they are surrendering as regards their fight for freedom," he said.
The peace plan calls for both sides, along with the HDC, to form a joint 150-member committee to monitor security, investigate cease-fire violations and take action, including imposing sanctions, to restore peace.
The committee, comprising 50 members each from the HDC, Indonesia and GAM, will have an important role to play in ensuring the effectiveness of the peace deal as it will have inquisitorial and prosecutorial powers.
In the past, both sides signed peace agreements on several occasions, but these were found to be ineffective due to the absence of a neutral third party to supervise their implementation.
Teuku Kamaruzzaman told the Post in Banda Aceh that GAM was ready to sign the peace deal at the time "we have agreed upon with the HDC."
Kamaruzzaman rejected the allegation that GAM had finally agreed to sign the accord due to the pressure being applied by the Indonesian Military (TNI) on the GAM headquarters in Cot Trieng, saying that "we have never felt that we have been pressured. Neither are we being coerced by it (the military siege)," Kamaruzzaman said, adding he would discuss the unresolved aspects of the plan and the technical aspects of its implementation with Indonesian negotiators.
The Acehnese people have been waging war against the government since 1976 to fight for the province's independence following continued empty promises from Jakarta and rampant human right abuses.