Hopes high for Aceh peace deal to last forever
Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh
As stipulated by the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the GAM rebels are to begin disarming by Feb. 9, while the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police will at the same time begin pulling back their combat forces to defensive areas. The Jakarta Post journalist Kornelius Purba was in Aceh from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5, and he reports on the situation in the province and the implementation of the cease-fire agreement.
An Army officer described how his stint in strife-torn Aceh resembled the movie Sleeping with the Enemy in which Julia Roberts stars.
He said he had to get along with a member of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), whom he may have killed under other circumstances had the Indonesian government and the rebel group failed to reach a peace deal.
The captain recalled his first experience in December, when he had to sleep in the next room to a GAM member in Riza Hotel in Sigli, Pidie regency. Because he was barred from carrying any weapons, the officer called the chief of the local district military command to send some personnel to secretly guard his hotel room.
"I could not sleep until morning. I did not want to be killed in my sleep," said the officer who refused to be identified.
A few days later he met with the rebel, who told the captain of the same experience. After that they agreed to depend on one another for protection because they would have to live together for a few months to come. At night sometimes they would walk out together to find something to eat.
The military officer and his GAM next-door neighbor are members of the monitoring team of the Joint Security Commission (JSC), set up to supervise the peace process in Aceh. The team in Pidie is headed by Maj. Suthep Anuchon from Thailand.
"It is part of the confidence building measures," said Suthep.
After 26 years of living dangerously, a sense of security has swept through Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh over the last two months, from the provincial capital Banda Aceh to rebel strongholds like regencies Pidie and East Aceh.
Peace had become a luxury commodity in the rebellious territory in the past, but now the Acehnese people can taste a slice of the good fortune.
For many people, walking or sitting in public parks without fear at night is a treat. Their evenings were often shattered by sudden bomb explosions or dead bodies lying on the streets.
"For years we experienced a nightmare. Now we can enjoy a peaceful life," said Hotli a local photographer who works for an international news agency.
The number of killings has also sharply declined. Even the Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers and police personnel, who battled with GAM rebels for almost three decades, share a common view that Aceh now is safer for everyone.
"People are happy with this peace," Tengku Kamaruzzaman, a senior GAM official told The Jakarta Post.
An Army corporal stood at the gate the Iskandar Muda Military Command (Kodam) on Jl. Jend. A. Yani in Banda Aceh. He said he felt more secure now standing in front of the office because before the Dec. 9 peace accord, he was always worried about GAM snipers.
"Now that peace has come, I want to go home. I miss my family," said the soldier, a West Java native.
Security conditions have improved greatly in the province for those who run businesses.
"Now I can open my kedai kopi (coffee shop) until late night. Before the peace agreement I had to close before 7 p.m.," said Jalil Ibrahim, who owns a small coffee shop across from the Baiturrahman grand mosque in Banda Aceh.
Ayi Jufridan, a reporter for Serambi Indonesia daily, hopes both GAM and Indonesia will avoid violence and choose political settlement through dialog to reach their goals.
Zaini Hasyim, a peanut trader, enjoys the freedom from fear. He said that after the peace accord he could drive his Kijang van at night when he returned to Banda Aceh from Sare in Greater Aceh. Before the signing of the peace agreement, even during the day time he would think twice about driving alone.
Despite the semblance of peace, armed police and military personnel were seen patrolling major streets in Banda Aceh early this month. Similar sights were also visible in Sigli, Bireun, Lhokseumawe, Langsa and other towns, although they looked more relaxed compared to Banda Aceh.
Military posts along the highway connecting Banda Aceh and Medan in North Sumatra remain operational, although soldiers there were busy reading newspapers or chatting with one another. A big announcement in front of each security post tells passersby not to give anything to the soldiers. However at some major security posts, truck drivers would often stop to give money.
Public transportation vehicles traveling between Banda Aceh and Medan and trucks carrying commodities have now resumed their night operations. Previously they only worked in daylight hours because GAM, the military or police often extorted money from them in the past.
"The problem is no longer about security, but passengers. The number of passengers remains very low, perhaps due to economic hardship," said Fajar Baizuri, a bus driver in Bireun.
Lhokseumawe, the biggest industrial city in the province, has also found a new life. Night life has slowly returned to normal, where shops, restaurants and the local market open until late.
A security guard at Selat Malaka Hotel in the city expressed relief that number of the hotel guests had significantly increased.
"The boss can smile now. Before this he always looked at me with a stone face," the guard noted.
In Langsa, East Aceh, a 45-year old woman expressed her hope that both TNI, police or GAM would no longer disturb the life of the ordinary people.
"If they want to continue the war, I hope they can do it deep in the jungle. I just hope we will be free from violence for good," said the woman who sells VCDs.
However most Acehnese would answer, "we don't know," when asked how long peace could last in the war-torn province. Many of them are afraid that the two warring parties are undergoing a military build-up during the cease-fire as GAM and the military believe their only goal is to eliminate their enemies.
Observers have said eternal peace can prevail in the province when the government and all involved parties have the political will to overcome the roots of the bloody conflict in Aceh.
The government has made a good start and if it is sincere about healing the people's broken hearts we can hope that children can play freely in public parks and enjoy their school years without any security disturbances.