Govt opposes Aceh self-rule, may allow GAM to join poll

Govt opposes Aceh self-rule, may allow GAM to join poll

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government expects to reach a peace accord with the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) in June or July after two rounds of talks to
settle 32 years of conflict in the province.

If a peace deal is struck, there is a possibility that GAM
will contest the regional election.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Thursday it would take two
or three more meetings with GAM " to end the conflict with
honor", saying that both sides must accept each other's
conditions.

"Every night, I monitor the development of the talks (in
Helsinki). It's a very fast outcome compared to previous talks. I
am sure in June or July everything could be settled," Kalla said
in his speech during a ceremony attended by lecturers of the
National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) here.

Kalla was upbeat the peaceful settlement in Aceh would lead to
a better quality of life in Aceh, which could be achieved in 2009
with the emergence of "a new Aceh."

The Vice President said the possibility was there for GAM
members to vie for the posts of regent, mayor or governor in the
province.

"If they are granted amnesty, all their political rights will
be restored," Kalla told the press after addressing the seminar.

Asked whether the government would accept GAM's demand for
self rule in the province, Kalla replied: "It is actually a
stronger autonomy. But we are not talking about it. It is the
government who can rule, not GAM.

"Don't forget that self rule will not be awarded to GAM. It
was demanded, but we haven't approved it," he said.

Kalla said security was essential to support the
reconstruction and reconciliation process in Aceh, which was
shattered by a huge earthquake and killer tidal waves last
December. Over 200,000 people were killed or were declared
missing and presumed dead in the worst disaster in the country's
history.

The second round of informal talks in Helsinki ended on
Wednesday, with the third meeting scheduled for mid-April also in
the Finnish capital.

Separately, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the press
he expected the protracted conflict in Aceh to end as national
unity was all that Indonesia needed to rebuild Aceh.

"Frankly, I really wish the conflict in Aceh would end soon,
particularly because we must unite to reconstruct Aceh," he said
after a meeting with two Indonesian journalists who were recently
released after being abducted in Iraq.

The President said the process to end the conflict needed hard
work on the part of all parties.

"The most important thing is Aceh must remain secure for the
reconstruction process in the wake of the tsunami. I call on GAM
in Aceh not to disturb the reconstruction process and
humanitarian relief there," Susilo said.

Commenting on the GAM's demand for self rule, Susilo said
special autonomy was the only solution to end the conflict in
Aceh. He asserted that the international community strongly
supported the territorial integrity of Indonesia.

"No country in the world supports the separation of Aceh from
Indonesia," he asserted.

GAM members in the field praised their exiled leaders'
agreement to continue the peace talks, saying they had the
mandate of the Acehnese people.

"We will follow any decision made by our political and field
leaders. If they ask us to lay down our arms, then we will do
so," said Teungku Kafrawi, a spokesman for GAM in Peureulak area,
East Aceh.

As a consequence of the agreement in Helsinki, GAM troops will
stay away from civilians to avoid possible armed clashes with the
Indonesian Military, he added.