Lawmakers change their minds in Aceh peace talks

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.