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.