'Important for GAM, government to trust each other'

The government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) are scheduled to sign a peace deal on Aug. 15 in Helsinki, Finland. The Jakarta Post's Tony Hotland spoke with Imam Syuja, an Acehnese legislator from the National Mandate Party (PAN) about peace prospects in the war-torn province. The following are some of the highlights of their conversation:

Question: What is your opinion about the latest developments in the peace talks between the government and GAM?

Answer: The significant developments are gratifying, compared to previous rounds, and even to previous peace talks in the past. This is one of the most crucial moments in Aceh and for its people as the government and GAM have finally met at the same spot. They used to stand on two different poles, but they have moved closer to one mutual understanding.

Personally, this is a situation that would have come about by itself sooner or later. But with the massive earthquake and the subsequent tsunami, I think it was God's warning to both disputing sides that now's the time to resolve the conflict that has caused too much suffering, physically and mentally.

What are the compromises that the two sides made to finally come to the latest agreement?

They have shown a great deal of willingness to end this conflict with the money, thoughts and prayers that were all put together since January.

The parties have their own strengths and weaknesses on the negotiation table, but they managed to compromise with one another. After over 30 years of conflict, neither has been able to quell the other. The government has failed to stamp out the separatists, and GAM has never been close to actually getting independence. What happened was only the death of thousands of people, civilians and military personnel -- all for nothing during the years of military operations.

Then came along the monstrous disasters that claimed over 100,000 lives.

The government and GAM saw the disaster as a true warning that all hostilities in the province have to be settled and put to an end for good -- and done peacefully. And it did prove to work because they started thinking clearer about the conflict afterwards. GAM dropped its independence demand, while the government agreed to facilitate the GAM's requests for wider and independent aspects of life, in economics particularly, in Aceh.

How do you see the debate on the establishment of local political parties in Aceh as a key request from GAM?

Indonesia actually recognized local parties decades ago, during our first election in 1955. Analysts have argued the benefits and the disadvantages of allowing such parties, but I believe the government will study it thoroughly before granting GAM's demand.

The government enacted Law No. 18/2001 on special autonomy for Aceh. If the government wants to limit the creation of local parties only to Aceh, if it deems the idea to be a bit risky (on a nationwide basis), then this law is the answer. The autonomy law can be revised by amending articles about political parties.

GAM has compromised a lot during the process. The issue of Aceh has put the government in a difficult position, and the special autonomy law is the most feasible option. Of course, it needs to be ensured that these parties will not campaign for independence, and vow to uphold the unity of Indonesia.

Regarding fear of separatism, it was waves of injustice by the central government that accumulated into the birth of idealism of local people. The government took those first small cries for freedom for granted, until it grew into a full voice asking for independence. There should be no correlation between a local party and separatism.

Now that a preliminary peace deal has been signed, what are the next steps to reach a fully peaceful situation in Aceh?

It is crucial for them to keep each other's promises and implement all of the agreed items between the two without any exceptions.

There must be a continuity in implementing the peace agreement with concrete action plans.

First, there is the security arrangement. It should be clear in the final agreement about how the processes of GAM disarming and the government withdrawing military troops, so that there are not multiple interpretations.

On this, the involvement of foreign observers are important as was the case during the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) (signed in December 2002, but dissolved in May 2003). They can monitor implementation and help to ensure that all the obligations on the part of the government and GAM are adhered to.

Second, there should be an emphasis on the involvement of former GAM members in normal society. For example, the government is trying to rebuild Aceh after the disasters. The issue will be how to involve former GAM members in that process.

They must be granted amnesty and rehabilitated. All of them, without any exceptions. That is what I meant by an impartial resolution. They, including those in prison, should be given every right of a normal citizen, including to be politically active, to get a job, to have a voice. The government must not do what Habibie's administration did, that is to grant them amnesty, but not grant them their basic rights as human beings.

On GAM's part, they need to convince the government that their willingness to join Indonesia is legitimate. They must make their independence struggle a part of history, so that neither the government or local people get suspicious about them every now and then. What is important is that GAM and the government need to have trust in each other.