Lawmakers change their minds in Aceh peace talks
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Hopes of peace in Aceh have received a boost after leaders of 10 major political parties expressed their cautious support for the government's plan to allow former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members to contest elections in the province later this year.
In a meeting with leaders of 10 political parties represented in the House of Representatives on Wednesday night, the government won support for its plan to allow ex-GAM leaders to contest the direct gubernatorial elections in October, part of a as-yet unsigned peace agreement that could see the group disband and give up its weapons.
Many lawmakers had earlier opposed the planned talks in Helsinki scheduled to start next Tuesday, which are billed as the final key forum before both parties ink a peace agreement.
They also said the inclusion of foreign parties in the talks, including an agreement to allow European Union and ASEAN observers into Aceh to observe the execution of the deal, was international interference into a domestic issue.
Golkar Party lawmaker Happy Bone Zulkarnaen deemed the offer one of the few ways available to accommodate GAM's political aspirations without allowing it to set up its own party, something the government negotiators still oppose.
"This (offer) is a proof of the government's good will. It's impossible to seek a settlement if both parties continue to flex their muscles. A war is not a solution to the issue," Happy said.
He said the rebels should also back down from their more extreme demands.
Among those present at Wednesday's meeting hosted by Vice President Jusuf Kalla were President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, House Speaker Agung Laksono (Golkar), deputy House speaker Muhaimin Iskandar and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab (National Awakening Party), State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Suryadharma Ali, Minister of Social Affairs Sutrisno Bachir (United Development Party), National Mandate Party leader Abdillah Toha, Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono and State Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Adhyaksa Dault (Prosperous Justice Party), Democrat Party president Hadi Utomo and Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban (Crescent Star Party).
The opposition Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said its lawmakers did not attend the meeting because they were not invited.
However, PDI-P faction chairman Tjahjo Kumolo said the party supported the concept as long as former rebels contesting local elections were rehabilitated before the law.
"Whether through the courts or an amnesty, it doesn't matter as long the process is accountable."
However, lawmakers when giving their support said it was dependent on the government reporting the progress of the talks to the House. The government has yet to officially report the results of the fourth round of peace talks last month to the House.
Outspoken National Mandate Party lawmaker Djoko Susilo said the government should explain in detail every issue discussed in the meetings to ensure that negotiators had not violated the Constitution.
"Particularly, as the government is planning to bring these talks into a formal stage, which is crucial if they are to be legally binding," he said.
People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid joined the chorus of support, but said any former GAM member contesting the elections must accept the unitary state of Indonesia.