Next U.S. envoy wants peace for Aceh

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.