Key issues threaten Aceh peace accord

Key issues threaten Aceh peace accord

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh

Minor hurdles are threatening the proposed peace accord despite
an announcement that both the government and the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) were strongly committed to signing the peace deal
on Dec. 9.

GAM rebels on the ground looked set to accept the proposed
date for the signing, but exiled GAM leaders were divided over
the date, saying that they were committed to another meeting with
the government on Dec. 9.

In addition, the two warring sides were divided over several
crucial issues, including the mechanism for the cessation of
hostilities and a comprehensive solution to the Aceh conflict.

Sofyan Dawood, the GAM spokesman in Aceh, said on Wednesday
that GAM would probably sign the proposed peace agreement as GAM
Commander Muzakhir Manaf had received information from GAM
leaders in Stockholm that the accord would be signed soon after
the fasting month of Ramadhan.

However, Zaini Abdullah of GAM's hardline faction overseas
denied that GAM had set a date to sign the peace accord, saying
that during the meeting with the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), which
is facilitating the peace talks, GAM had agreed to meet again
on Dec. 9.

He insisted that GAM had not agreed to accept the special
autonomy package that the government had offered Aceh and it
would continue fighting for the province's separation from
Indonesia.

AP quoted a Western official, who declined to be identified,
as saying: "That (the peace accord) is still tentative. They are
really close at this point but all things could fall apart if
hardliners undermine it."

Acehnese figures have also questioned the siege by the
military of GAM rebels and leaders in Cot Trieng, North Aceh,
saying that the military should end it to show its strong moral
commitment to end hostilities and create peace in Aceh.

Imam Suja, the chairman of the Aceh chapter of the second
largest Muslim organization, the Muhammadiyah, and Rufriadi, the
director of the Aceh Legal Aid Foundation, stressed that the move
would be of chief importance to boost confidence-building
measures between the two warring parties.

"GAM has been ready to sign a peace pact. In return, the
government should give us a sound response by ending the siege of
GAM in Cot Trieng," Rufriadi said.

If the TNI continues to attack GAM in Cot Trieng, mistrust
would prevail as GAM would later believe that the military did
not have the goodwill to end the 26-year conflict, said Rufriadi.

Imam said both sides should be ready to discuss all crucial
issues in the accord, including the cantonment of GAM's arsenals
and the military's pullout from the province.

Despite the minor hurdles, both HDC, religious figures and
government officials have been optimistic about the signing of
the peace deal on the set date.

Bill Dowell, the spokesman for HDC, said in East Aceh that it
was working hard to bring the two warring sides to the
negotiating table on Dec. 9 to sign the peace deal.

With the presence of foreign observers in Aceh, the
Philippines and Thailand have expressed their readiness to send
its personnel to monitor the enforcement of the peace accord.

Syafii Maarif, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, said: "The
agreement is a starting point to end the bloodshed in Aceh after
years of an unfruitful negotiation process."

Vice President Hamzah Haz said that the representatives of GAM
in the peace talks had to truly represent GAM.

"The GAM representatives, who signed the agreement should have
access to all GAM elements," Hamzah said.

In addition, Japan and the U.S. have initiated a meeting in
Tokyo to support the peace settlement for Aceh and produce post-
conflict financial assistance for the strife-torn province.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday
that the meeting would be held on Dec. 3, before Jakarta and the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) reached a final agreement.

"This meeting has been initiated by Japan and the U.S. in
support of the peace process and both Japan and the U.S. wish to
see GAM sign the peace agreement," Hassan said after a hearing
with House of Representatives Commission I on security and
foreign affairs.