Leave the HDC

Leave the HDC

When the Indonesian government decided to mandate the Henry Dunant Center (HDC) to be the mediator of its peace talks with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the public welcomed it and hoped the conflict in Aceh would finally end. However, this hope is beginning to fade. Armed clashes in the restive province have again been happening almost every day.

It does not come as a surprise that many parties question the HDC's capability and role in bringing peace to Aceh. Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Amien Rais, has even asked the government to stop involving the HDC as mediator. He sees the HDC as a trouble-maker which sides with the GAM.

As mediator, the HDC has not only failed to carry out its function. The agreements resulting from HDC's mediation have also given the GAM a chance to expand its influence and power.

There is no longer any reason for the government to maintain the HDC as mediator. The Aceh conflict is an internal problem of Indonesia, which is supposed to settled it on its own. Thus, it needs self-confidence. -- Republika, Jakarta