Humanitarian pause

Humanitarian pause

From Republika

The humanitarian pause in Aceh has been terminated. The score
is one to zero for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The government
has made a sacrifice, and GAM has reaped the advantages. It is
said that to replace the humanitarian pause, a "moratorium" will
be in effect until February 2001. This is an opportunity for GAM
to consolidate its political moves. GAM has promised to change
its strategy and make its struggle a political one, but it
persistently refuses to turn over its weapons.

The government agrees to this without reserve, apparently
simply believing GAM's proposals. This agreement is definitely
hazardous. First, during the humanitarian pause GAM did not stop
its violent operations. Many military personnel and police
officers uselessly fell victim to the violence. Second, GAM
remains free to air its opinion that the government was the one
that committed violence against the people of Aceh. Third, it
provides an opportunity to NGO activists to continue to look for
fault with the police and military and blame the government.

By utilizing the "moratorium" agreement, GAM can freely take
political steps and exert diplomacy to create a condition where
the people of Aceh will not believe in the government and will
hate the military. I would like to remind the police and military
brass, especially those in charge of formulating security policy,
that they should not be trapped by GAM's sly tricks, which have
many times deceived President Abdurrahman Wahid's administration.

MUKMIN ABDULLAH

Jakarta