Military, GAM misinterpret Aceh peace accord: NGOs

Military, GAM misinterpret Aceh peace accord: NGOs

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Two members from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) criticized
Indonesian security forces and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for
having misinterpreted the cessation of hostilities agreement and
misinformed the Acehnese people.

One human rights organization in Aceh (NGO HAM) called on the
military and police as well as GAM to reread the cessation of
hostilities agreement that was signed in Geneva on Dec. 9, 2002,
and not to misinterpret it because that could cause public
confusion.

"Both sides are required to cease hostilities and all forms of
violations in order to provide a safe climate for all elements of
Acehnese society to gather and solve the issue through the all-
inclusive dialog," NGO HAM executive director Risman told The
Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.

Risman called on negotiators from the two conflicting sides to
give the correct information about the peace accord to their own
groups and disseminate it without their own interpretations to
Acehnese people in order to avoid confusion.

"The people have very high hopes for this peace accord and
want to see changes and a better future after more than 2 decades
of bloody war," he added.

Syarifah Rahmatillah, an activist from the Indonesian Women's
Partnership (MSPI), concurred and said both GAM and the security
authorities had acted as if the peace accord belonged to them and
its implementation depended on them.

"The first key point in the peace accord is that GAM and
security personnel must end their conflict and stay out of the
Aceh issue to establish peace and the second key is that the Aceh
issue must be solved by the Acehnese people through the all-
inclusive dialog," she said, while adding that so far, there had
been no space given to the civil society to play a role in the
peace process.

Risman and Rahmatillah were of the same opinion that both GAM
and government security forces had been dishonest and unwilling
to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement, leading to
several violations over the last two months.

"Therefore, the Henry Dunant Centre, JSC and the monitoring
teams, should work efficiently to encourage all sides to remain
bound to the peace process," said Rahmatillah.

Jakarta is now warning that the peace process is on the brink
of a breakdown because of its allegations that GAM had been
telling the people that the peace process would lead to
independence from Indonesia.

Meanwhile, visiting Norwegian Ambassador Sjur Torgerssen made
clear that his country fully backed the peace process in Aceh, as
well as Indonesian unity.

He said his country would provide financial assistance to hold
the planned all-inclusive dialog to seek a comprehensive solution
to all problems in the province.

During his three-day visit, Sjur was scheduled to visit
Indrapuri, the first peace zone declared in Aceh Besar regency
and Sigli in Pidie regency to see the implementation of the peace
process in the two regencies.

Key points in the cessation of hostilities agreement:

1. In the preamble, the Indonesian government and GAM accept
Nanggro Aceh Darussalam special autonomy law and use it as
starting point to a democratic, all-inclusive dialog involving
all elements of Acehnese society. Both sides share the common
objective to meet the Acehnese people's aspirations to live in
security with dignity, peace, prosperity and justice. They also
agree to a process that leads to an election in 2004 and the
subsequent establishment of a democratically elected government.

2. Feb. 9, 2003, GAM starts placing weapons and arms at
designated places while the Indonesian Military relocates to
defense positions and National Police reformulates Mobile Brigade
personnel to ordinary police. The Joint Security Committee (JSC)
identifies and prepares locations of conflict to be designated as
peace zones. Demilitarized zones, which will be monitored by
tripartite monitoring teams, will be the focus of initial
humanitarian, rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance. Civil
society has the right to supply JSC with input.

3. JSC has the function to formulate the process of the
implementation of the agreement, monitor security, investigate
any security violations and take appropriate action, and impose
sanctions against violators and ensure that no paramilitary force
is formed to replace the Mobile Brigade.

4. Both sides agree to hold an all-inclusive dialog in a safe and
free manner under the Henry Dunant Centre's facilitation.