Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Landmarks in road to peace

| Source: JP

Landmarks in road to peace

Dec. 4, 1976 - Hassan di Tiro declares Aceh's independence and
establishes the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

1990-1999 - Aceh is designated a military operations area (DOM).

May 12, 2000 - The Joint Understanding on Humanitarian Pause is
signed by the Indonesian government and GAM in Davos,
Switzerland, to pave the way for peace in Aceh.

Jan. 6-10, 2001 - Govt and GAM representatives agree to a one-
month moratorium on violence, facilitated by the Henry Dunant
Centre (HDC) for Humanitarian Dialog in Switzerland.

July 19, 2001 -- House passes bill granting special autonomy to
Aceh, with 70 percent of oil and gas revenue going to the
province and 30 percent to the central government.

Dec. 9, 2002 - Indonesia, GAM sign the Cessation of Hostilities
Agreement at the HDC headquarters in Geneva.

Feb. 15, 2003 - A Joint Security Committee to prepare the
mechanism for demilitarization ends in deadlock in Banda Aceh.

May 17, 2003 - Last-ditch peace talks with GAM are held in Tokyo,
Japan, while the govt issues a final warning for the rebels to
renounce their independence aspirations and accept special
autonomy.

May 18, 2003 - GAM rejects Indonesia's demands to drop its quest
for independence, accept autonomy and lay down its arms.

May 19, 2003 - President Megawati Soekarnoputri imposes
martial law in Aceh.

May 18, 2004 - Govt lifts martial law and replaces it with a
state of civil emergency.

Dec. 26, 2004 - Earthquake-triggered tidal waves devastate large
areas of Aceh, killing 129,000 people, leaving 30,000 missing and
hundreds of thousands homeless.

Jan. 28, 2005 - Indonesia, GAM hold peace talks in Helsinki,
Finland, facilitated by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI).

May 18, 2005 - Govt lifts the civil emergency in Aceh.

July 1, 2005 - House approves new funds to support some 35,000
soldiers on duty in Aceh.

July 20, 2005 - President Susilo orders the Indonesian Military
to stop its offensive against Aceh rebels ahead of the Aug. 15
signing of the peace deal.

Aug. 15, 2005 - Govt, GAM in Helsinki sign the peace deal to end
three decades of conflict that has claimed 15,000 lives.

From various sources

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