Japan offers to help find peaceful solution to problem in Aceh
Japan offers to help find peaceful solution to problem in Aceh
Agencies, Jakarta
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told visiting
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri that Tokyo was ready
to help find a peaceful solution to end the decades-long conflict
in Aceh.
In the meeting with Megawati on Tuesday, Koizumi underlined
that dialog remained the best solution to end the separatist
movement in the province.
"A peaceful solution through dialogue is the best way to
resolve the conflict," Koizumi said after meeting with Megawati,
as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
"The resumption of dialogue between the two parties can reach
a political settlement based on special autonomy as the final
solution," he noted, adding that Japan was willing to host
further meetings between the two sides.
Megawati, who thanked Tokyo for its continued support, said
the "door to the dialogue remains open and they hoped that a
peaceful solution can be found."
When speaking at the Japan National Press Club the day before,
Megawati said she was still hoping for a negotiated settlement to
the problems in Aceh, but it must be under the unitary state of
Indonesia.
"We are holding out hope for a peaceful resolution through
dialog .... But the Constitution makes clear that Indonesia is a
unitary state and it is unacceptable that any people should aim
for an arrangement contrary to that," she said at the press club.
The Indonesian President, on a four-day state visit to Japan,
faced questions from the Japanese community regarding her
decision to launch the military offensive against rebels in Aceh.
Japan hosted the last peace talks between the Indonesian
government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) last
month, which failed.
A few hours after the meeting collapsed, Megawati imposed
martial law in the province in a bid to crush the separatist
movement.
Japan, which fully acknowledges Indonesia's territorial
integrity, has repeatedly expressed concern over the breakdown of
peace talks and asked for the resumption of talks.
Last year, Japan also assembled representatives from more than
20 countries and international financial institutions for a post-
war rehabilitation and reconstruction meeting for Aceh.
Aside from the Aceh issue, Megawati and Koizumi also discussed
the escalating nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula, in which
the two leaders expressed concern over the crisis, which was
threatening to damage stability and peace in Asia.
The crisis is a major threat to Japanese security.
Megawati, who has good relations with the Pyongyang leaders,
promised to cooperate with Japan to help defuse the nuclear
crisis.
"Traditionally we have a long history of good relations with
North Korea but nuclear (technology) should bring benefits to the
people," Megawati told Koizumi during their meeting, according to
an official who attended the meeting.
"I would like to cooperate with you to resolve the problem
peacefully," she said.
On the trade front, government officials from both sides will
begin exploring an economic partnership and establish a panel to
discuss the details.
"I would like to make an effort to sign our economic
partnership agreement," Koizumi told the Indonesian leader.
The President will end her visit to Japan on Wednesday when
she is scheduled to leave for Vietnam, the last leg of her 10-day
overseas trip.
In Vietnam, the President is slated to witness the signing of
a continental shelves agreement over sea boundaries in the South
China Sea and a coffee regulation agreement.
The President is scheduled to return to Jakarta on Friday.