Govt proposes draft peace agreement to GAM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has submitted the draft of a peace agreement to the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and proposed dates for a dialog with the secessionist movement, a Cabinet minister says.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Monday the draft had been submitted to the Switzerland-based Henry Dunant Center (HDC), which has brokered peace talks between the Indonesian government and GAM.

"We have taken the initiative to propose a peace agreement and an end to hostilities. We have communicated (our peace proposal) to HDC, and we are now giving HDC time to communicate with GAM," Susilo was quoted by Antara as saying after a special coordinating meeting of political and security affairs ministers.

Susilo refused to reveal the details of the government's peace proposal, saying that it was still being finalized.

The coordinating meeting was attended by Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Hendropriyono, and National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

Susilo said the government had also proposed two possible dates for peace talks with GAM -- either at the end of September or early October.

"We are waiting for their response and, if positive, a dialog can take place early October based on the May 10 Agreement," he said.

The government and GAM agreed in May to take Aceh's special status, introduced on Jan. 1, 2001, as the sole basis for future talks and to end all armed conflict in the province.

Susilo stressed that the government wanted to resolve the Aceh question peacefully once and for all.

Meanwhile, two men believed to be GAM members gunned down a soldier in Kuta Blang, near the North Aceh district capital of Lhokseumawe, late on Sunday, Aceh military spokesman Maj. Zaenal Muttaqin told Agence France-Presse Monday.

The victim and two assailants were all riding motorcycles, he said.

Also on Sunday, villagers in Kandang, in North Aceh district, found the bodies of two unidentified men. Both had gunshot wounds, residents said.

Meanwhile, three soldiers who were shopping at a market in Panton Labu, in North Aceh district, were wounded Monday after two unidentified men threw a grenade at them, Muttaqin said.

Local GAM spokesman Teungku Jamaika claimed responsibility for the grenade incident.

More than 10,000 people are estimated to have died since 1976 when GAM began its fight for independence in the province at the northern tip of Sumatra island. An Acehnese rights body has said some 1,000 civilians have been killed this year alone.