No referendum for Aceh, observers welcomed

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda ruled out on Sunday discussing a referendum for Aceh with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) as other Indonesian officials gave conflicting statements on the status of military observers in Aceh.

"The only solution is for Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam, including GAM, to remain part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, "Hassan said as quoted by Antara.

Meanwhile Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said members of an observation team proposed for Aceh would not be representing their countries or the United Nations.

"They are not carrying their country's flag or that of the UN," Susilo said after attending the inauguration of the Seroja Monument at the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

The Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), which has mediated Aceh peace talks since 2000, has jointly proposed with leaders of Acehnese civil society that an international monitoring team be established.

Susilo's statements conflicted with a statement made by TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto. Endriartono said TNI welcomed the presence of military observers from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Aceh to help settle the conflict there.

"They (the observers) will report the results of their observation to the Henri Dunant Centre as a third, neutral party," Endriartono said.

So far, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have stated readiness to send observers to Aceh.

According to Susilo, the team, to be called Security Commission, would comprise representatives of the Indonesian government, GAM and HDC. The latter will involve representatives of several countries.

However, Susilo stressed that as long as the government and GAM had not signed an agreement for a cessation of hostility, TNI and the Indonesian Police would continue to perform their duty to uphold the law in Aceh.

Endriartono said that the military observers were not authorized to launch any kind of operation.

"The team will only serve to provide input and military observation and their presence is necessary," he said as quoted by Antara.

Peace talks between the government and GAM, originally scheduled for early this month, were postponed indefinitely.