Malaysian FM calls for peaceful settlement to Aceh conflict
Malaysian FM calls for peaceful settlement to Aceh conflict
Agencies, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia hopes a peaceful settlement could be reached in neighboring Indonesia's troubled Aceh province instead of armed conflict, as it could harm Southeast Asia's stability, foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said.
"We sincerely hope a peaceful resolution be reached in Aceh. Malaysia wants to see stability in Indonesia to allow the country to regain its economic strength," he was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star newspaper.
Syed Hamid warned that instability in Indonesia, a senior member in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, (ASEAN) would cause a ripple effect on the region.
Malaysia already houses hundreds of Aceh refugees. An all-out war could unleash a flood of refugees across the narrow Straits of Malacca that separates the two countries.
"We hope the Indonesian government will take the necessary measures to prevent war or political tension in Aceh. Its (Indonesia's) economic and political stability is pivotal to ASEAN's well-being," he said.
Syed Hamid said the region's economy was being threatened by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and "it does not need to be confronted with another crisis."
The Aceh peace pact, signed in December and aimed at stopping a decades-long conflict that has killed at least 10,000 people, called for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to start laying down its arms and the military to withdraw to defensive positions.
But Indonesia has given separatist rebels from the GAM until Monday to announce they are shelving their independence demands and are prepared to start disarming.
Fresh troops have been pouring into the province in Sumatra island in recent days in expectation of a military offensive.
The New Sunday Times reported Malaysia's armed forces are on the alert for a possible influx of refugees if fighting resumes in Aceh.
"We have no intention of meddling in what is happening over there, but if the situation results in a spillover to our side, then we will have to take measures," the report quoted Defense Minister Najib Abdul Razak as saying.
"Our forces are ready for any form of incursion or influx of refugees who may also want to use our shores as a base for their cause," Najib said without giving further details.
An exiled Acehnese separatist leader, who headed a splinter group of the GAM in Malaysia, estimated in 2000 there were 5,000 Acehnese living in Malaysia. Teuku Don Zulfahri was later shot dead in Kuala Lumpur, in a case police classified as murder.
Najib said regular surveillance and patrols were already underway in the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. But additional troops, naval vessels and aircraft would be deployed should the situation warrant, said the paper.
The paper gave no further details.