Next U.S. envoy wants peace for Aceh

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja , The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The United States ambassador-designate to Indonesia B. Lynn Pascoe said that encouraging and facilitating the peace process in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam would be among his priorities during his tenure in Indonesia.

Current ambassador Ralph L. Boyce served in Indonesia since October 2001.

In a statement in front of the U.S. Senate committee on foreign relations, Pascoe said that the Indonesian government would only be able to restore peace and stability in Aceh through nonmilitary, broadly inclusive solutions.

"I believe the U.S. can encourage and help facilitate a peaceful outcome to the violence in Aceh while promoting an approach that simultaneously protects the territorial integrity of Indonesia and the human rights of its citizens," Pascoe said, as quoted by a text provided by the USINFO.STATE.GOV issued on Sept. 10.

The ambassador-designate said that the recent lifting of martial law in Aceh has brought little change in bringing peace to the restive province.

He also expressed concern for the people in Maluku, Sulawesi and Papua who have been suffering due to riots and incidents of human rights abuses.

Pascoe, a 37-year old veteran of the foreign service, has been appointed by the U.S. government to replace Boyce, who has served in Indonesia for almost three years.

Pascoe has served for many years in Asia, including 10 years in Chinese-speaking posts as well as Bangkok, and as envoy to neighboring Malaysia.

In the statement, he further said that Indonesia, both for itself and its relations with the U.S. was entering "a critical time of transition".

He cited that U.S. assistance to Indonesia's counterterrorism efforts and to economic, judicial, and military reform "all play an essential role in helping Indonesians themselves make progress".

"Indonesia's strides in consolidating democracy have been dramatic and deserve our full support, at the same time we remain very concerned with aspects of the human rights there," Pascoe said in the statement.

He cited the first direct presidential election in Indonesia as an important step taken by the world's most populous Muslim country in strengthening its democracy.

On the counterterrorism issue, he lauded the steps taken in dealing with the series of terrorist attacks in the country.

"Indonesia has taken vigorous actions to pursue and prosecute those responsible for the Bali and Marriott bombings, and the Indonesian police have made significant progress in combating the indigenous terror network responsible for these attacks, Jamaah Islamiyah," he said.

In the economic field, Pascoe cited an urgent need for fundamental economic reform and improvements to the investment climate.

He vowed to pursue American interests in these areas especially in ensuring impartiality and the rule of law.