Indonesia and GAM strike accord to reduce violence
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Government representatives and rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commanders reached an agreement here on Saturday on ways to reduce the violence in strife-torn Aceh.
The agreement was reached in a day-long session at the Kuala Tripa Hotel here amid continuing violence which killed no less than seven people and injured 20 others over the weekend.
"The representatives of the two sides would meet in Switzerland next week, but the exact date has yet been decided," Indonesian envoy Col. Ridwan Karim told media after an eight-hour meeting, which almost ended in a deadlock.
The official also announced that the new four-point code of conduct would go into effect for 10 days from Feb. 11.
The two camps agreed to meet to discuss further developments on Feb. 20.
The session, facilitated by the Henry Dunant center (HDC) was also attended by GAM field commanders Tengku Amri bin Abdul Wahab and Tengku Saiful bin Muhammad Ali.
Under the pact, both sides agreed to halt the violence that has caused loss of life and damaged people's livelihood; rejected such acts as attacks, kidnapping, torture, arson, extortion, rape, harassment, intimidation, terror, illegal arrest, illegal raid, bombings and ambushes.
They also agreed to open channels of communication between their commanders in the field, and to try to jointly promote law and order.
Violence in Aceh has left more than 120 dead since the beginning of the year despite a shaky truce.
Meanwhile police said GAM rebels launched a pre-dawn attack on Saturday at around 5 a.m. on a police post in Tanjung Pineung village in Seuneudon district of North Aceh with grenade launchers, automatic weapons and hand grenades.
Three policemen and four civilians were injured in the initial assault on the post which was heavily damaged, said North Aceh police spokesman Adj. Comr. Abdi Darmarwan.
GAM's Abu Sofyan Daud claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that "the blitz was a retaliation toward Indonesia troops who have been hurting innocent people".
Also on Saturday, in East Aceh four people were killed while two other bodies were recovered in Bireun regency.
In Jakarta, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director General for Political Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said the positive signs from the Friday's meeting in Banda Aceh ensured further meetings between the government and GAM.
Hassan, who is the Indonesian top negotiator on the Aceh problem, said initially the three-day meeting in Switzerland, was scheduled on Monday but it will be delayed for a few days.
"The meeting will review the result of Friday's meeting and to further push for substantial dialog between the two-parties. The point is we have reached an on-ground agreement to reduce violence," he added.
On the one-month moratorium of violence, Hassan said that it was designed as a short-term truce and after Feb. 15, the peace- keeping system agreed to on Friday will be the reference for both parties to stop the fighting in the province. (50/edt/dja)