Hopes for Aceh peace dialog fade as military action looms

Hopes for Aceh peace dialog fade as military action looms

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The hard line taken by the government will dash any hope for a
peaceful solution to end the decades-long strife in Aceh,
official and activists alike said.

Wriyono Sastrohandoyo, Indonesia's chief negotiator in the
peace talks with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), said on Friday
that the government's decision to step up military action in Aceh
would put him in a difficult position to negotiate with GAM.

"Good intentions from both sides to end the conflict is the
only thing that could save the peace talks," Wiryono told The
Jakarta Post.

He underlined any agreement would only be valuable if both
sides abided by the peace agreement, signed by both sides in
Geneva, Switzerland.

"As I have always said, it takes two to tango, both sides will
have to follow the agreements we have reached to continue the
talks," Wiryono said.

He underlined that steps to end the conflict were very
important to resolve the issues in Aceh and that both sides had
to be committed.

Earlier on Wednesday, Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that Indonesia was
evaluating its peace policy for Aceh and might heighten military
operations against GAM.

Calling GAM a terrorist group for the fist time, Susilo said
the government had the legitimacy to use the TNI to crush GAM,
which has been fighting for an independent Aceh since the 1970s.

The hardline stance had clouded hopes for peace talks
involving the government, GAM and other groups in Aceh, which was
originally planned for this month.

The Henry Dunant Center, which has been facilitating peace
talks between the government and GAM will facilitate the planned
all-inclusive talks, refused to comment when asked about the
possibility of continuing the planned talks.

"We promised confidentiality to both sides. So, we cannot say
anything about the planned dialog," one of the officers of the
center told The Post.

Legislator Pramono Anung Wibowo from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) urged the government to be
patient and not to rashly decide to take a military approach.

"Dialog should come first. The government has to be patient
because we all know violence will resolve nothing in Aceh," he
said.

Wiryono said the government had expected the peace talks could
partner its security approach.

"However, it seems we are moving in a different direction. We
have to remember that one death is one too many," he remarked.

Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said
the talks would be postponed until GAM showed good intentions to
end the conflict.

"GAM has to change its attitude, not resort to terrorist
activities and put forward suggestions and solutions," Hassan
said in Manado, North Sulawesi, as quoted by Antara.

GAM chief negotiator Zaini Abdullah said in a statement
earlier that GAM was committed to continuing peace negotiations
with the government.

He accused the government of not being committed to
implementing peace agreements, and of resorting to military
action.

Indonesian and GAM negotiators have met several times in
Geneva and signed several agreements to end blood-letting in
Aceh. However, violence has continued in Aceh.