Peace deal in Aceh futile

Peace deal in Aceh futile

From Koran Tempo

To build peace, even with one's own fellow countrymen, has proven to be difficult. This is the case in Aceh. A peace treaty was signed in Geneva on Dec. 9, 2002, but a very strong commitment from the parties involved is needed to ensure that peace will really be felt by the community.

To this end, both parties signing the peace treaty must adhere to all the items agreed upon in the deal. Otherwise, peace will only be a castle in the air. (An example of how the treaty is not being fully honored is that a member of the Indonesian Army was killed in Lhok Ara, close to Lhokseumawe, North Aceh on, Feb. 15).

What one finds on the ground is that the armed parties do not trust each other. Both the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian Army and Police Mobile Brigade are harboring great suspicion of each other.

As a result, there has yet to be any significant progress to ensure a lasting arms truce, although the violent conflict has declined in intensity.

Both parties signing the peace pact must investigate violations against the items in the agreement and a heavy penalty must be imposed on those committing the violations. The outcome of this investigation and the penalty, as stated in a document signed by representatives of GAM and the Republic of Indonesia on Jan. 29, 2003, must be reported to the Joint Security Committee so that it can be made public.

Unless suspicion can be removed forever, a more protracted war than before will take place in Aceh. And, like the previous war, no party will win. To ensure that the peace pact is properly honored, a bigger number of neutral troops to supervise the implementation of the peace treaty will be needed.

Last but not least, both GAM and the Indonesian Military/Police should refrain from commenting on each other. Only the Joint Security Commission team has the right to judge the behavior of either party.

KOMARUDIN, Jakarta