Indonesia and GAM strike accord to reduce violence
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)