Govt, GAM set to sign peace deal on December 9

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.