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.