No referendum for Aceh, observers welcomed

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.