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.