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