Key problems in Aceh and their potential solutions

Key problems in Aceh and their potential solutions

A'an Suryana and Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

What are the problems that need to be addressed by both the
Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to ensure
the success of the peace agreement that they will sign on Monday
in Helsinki, Finland?

Domestically, including in Aceh, the peace plan has received
mixed reactions, probably as a result of the fate of a previous
agreement at the end of 2002, which was mediated by the Henry
Dunant Centre and collapsed only a few months after it was
signed.

Despite the lingering doubts, however, there is more to be
optimistic about this time around. There are strong reasons for
believing that the Helsinki peace deal will eventually work.
Unlike earlier agreements, the Helsinki peace deal has received
strong backing from various quarters, including from the
Indonesian Military (TNI), and top political parties.

The Acehnese people themselves are also tired of three decades
war that has claimed thousands of lives.

The TNI and National Police (Polri) top brass themselves have
also voiced support although it remains to be seen whether this
support really materializes on the ground. Both institutions will
have to work hard to control their personnel and
indisciplined elements from doing stupid things that could foil
the peace deal.

But TNI has adopted a different stance this time around.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla
have a strong mandate from the people as they were directly
elected by the people. The absence of former Army chief Gen.
Ryamizard Ryacudu from the TNI's top leadership is also helpful
for the process as he is regarded as a hawk on the Aceh issue.
Meanwhile, outgoing TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto will not
make problems with the government as he must also think about his
future.

The tsunami disaster, which in December last year killed some
129,000 people in Aceh alone, has provided the catalyst for the
peace deal. Stunned by the massive scale of the devastation
resulting from the disaster, both GAM and the Indonesian
government have treated it as a turning point. The two sides have
also come under strong international pressure to create a
conducive climate for the reconstruction and rebuilding of Aceh,
much of which will be financed from abroad.

The above factors provide a good momentum for lasting peace in
Aceh. It is now up to the Indonesian government and GAM to show
that they are really committed to peace.

With the foundations for a lasting peace having been laid,
both GAM and the Indonesian government still have a lot of work
to do. The Indonesian government and GAM leaders must now address
the technicalities surrounding the demand by GAM that it be
allowed to establish a local political party. Because Indonesian
electoral law does not permit local political parties, the
existing legislation will have to be amended.

The will be unlikely to present a problem as all factions in the House
of Representatives (DPR), including the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, have thrown their weight
behind the peace deal.

Besides laying the groundwork for the establishment of a local
(GAM) political party, the Indonesian government also needs to
prepare a plan for the granting of amnesties to convicted GAM
members. There is already a plan to provide GAM members with
houses and between two and three hectares of land each, but how
this will be implemented remains to be seen. The scheme will cost
the central government dearly.

It is not inconceivable that the number of GAM members will
sharply increase because of the incentives.

Like it or not, the government must also take measures,
including providing financial incentives, to "compensate" the TNI
for losing "a lucrative battleground". There are
allegations that war-related "business" activities have been
rampant during the military operation in the province.

Effective government policies will be needed to prevent
irresponsible parties from sabotaging the peace deal. Some
quarters have taken advantage of the prolonged conflict in Aceh,
including making money from the lucrative arms and drug trades,
and they will do whatever they can do perpetuate the conflict in
the province for their own gain.

The huge amount of money earmarked for Aceh's reconstruction
has also created problems as many parties want to get their hands
on least a part of the "tsunami cake". The international
community will not tolerate any misuse of the donations destined
for the tsunami victims.

It is also essential that problems concerning GAM be
addressed. Many of them collected "tax" from the people and ran
illicit businesses during the war, and they are likely to lose
these lucrative sources of income soon. Like the TNI and police,
GAM will also face financial problems.

The provision of houses and plot of lands for GAM members is
likely to spark social envy as many Acehnese are still suffering
hardship in the aftermath of tsunami disaster. This issue also
needs to be seriously addressed by the government.

In order to handle the looming social problems in Aceh, a
massive public information campaign will be need in order to
convince the Acehnese to accept the amnesty program. The
government must make people aware that compensation for GAM
members is the price that must be paid in order to ensure lasting
peace in Aceh.

The influence of ultranationalist politicians must also not be
underestimated. They can easily provoke nationalist sentiments
among the non-Acehnese. Many people in Java support a military
solution to the problems in Aceh. From time to time, this factor
will have the potential to disrupt the peace process.

Keeping the peace deal on the rails is now the toughest
challenge facing the government and GAM leaders.