Govt hints at 'security approach in Aceh'

Govt hints at 'security approach in Aceh'

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has hinted at pursuing a security-minded
approach, instead of dialog, in dealing with the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), despite the increasing death toll from military
operations in the troubled province.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said that the government has
yet to decide whether or not it would enter into another round of
talks with GAM representatives because, so far, the government
has said that it has little faith in a negotiated settlement.

"We cannot have the dialog just for the sake of having a
dialog ... what would be the point of that?" Hassan asked The
Jakarta Post after a cabinet meeting on Monday.

Rumors have swirled that the government and GAM would meet
later this month in Geneva, Switzerland with the Center of
Humanitarian Dialog, the new name for Henry Dunant Center, as the
facilitator.

"We are still exploring the target and agenda ... if we want
to have talks, there should be a certain goal that we want to
achieve," said the minister, adding that the government needed
more time to work out possible objectives.

Hassan said that it would be ineffective to have a dialog with
GAM if the rebel movement was not serious with the peace talks
and without special goals to achieve.

The government has consistently taken a tougher stance against
the GAM since it introduced special autonomy status named Nangroe
Aceh Darussalam after the country's westernmost province in
January.

In February, the Indonesian Military (TNI) revived the Aceh
Military Command just two days after the government and GAM
leaders concluded that their two days of peace talks in Geneva,
in which both sides agreed to reduce violence in the restive
province.

Last week, the TNI sent over 2,000 troops to the province as
the death toll of fighting between security forces and GAM
members has continued to rise.

According to human rights groups, more than 400 people,
including military and police personnel, have died in 2002 alone.

Some 1,700 people were killed in all of 2001.

Minister Hassan also said on Monday that the government wanted
to see security conditions in the restive province improving
firsthand, before it could hold new peace talks with GAM leaders.

"We will need to see whether or not we pursue peace talks with
GAM members," he said.

Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf
flatly denied on Monday that there was an outbreak of violence
between the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) and Brimob officers
in Lhoksukon, around 30 kilometers east of Lhokseumawe.

The media has reported that the incident resulted in the death
of one police officer, a member of Army's Special Force
(Kopassus), along with a civilian, on Saturday.

According to Saleh, the three were killed in a running gun
battle between GAM members and security personnel.

"The shooting went on for 30 minutes ... a Kopassus sergeant
major was shooting at GAM members," Saleh said. "This officer was
then helped by Brimob officers during the shootout.

"Both the Kopassus and a Brimob officer were shot dead by
unidentified GAM members," he added.

"Had the officer died from fighting Kopassus officers, the
National Police would neither have had his body flown to his
hometown, nor made arrangements for his burial -- with full
honors," Saleh told the Post on Monday night.