Peace in Aceh good for Southeast Asia

Peace in Aceh good for Southeast Asia

Kavi Chongkittavorn, The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok

The expected peace agreement between Indonesia and the
separatist rebels of Aceh successfully caps years of effort to
end the conflict that has threatened to destabilize the Southeast
Asian region.

The low-key pacifist approach advocated by Geneva-based Henry
Dunant Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue has been the main factor
in both sides building up enough mutual trust and confidence to
reach the landmark peace agreement. The centre has been assisted
by an international wise-man group, established two years ago
following the first round of unsuccessful talks in early 2000.

The group comprises former Thai foreign minister Dr Surin
Pitsuwan, the U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni, former
Yugoslav foreign minister Budimir Lonchar, and former deputy
Swedish foreign minister Bengt Save-Soderbergh. The involvement
of the high-profile Zinni shows Washington's serious interest in
ending a conflict that is affecting Indonesia's stability and
future. Bengt, who joined the group earlier this year, has an
important role to play because Sweden is home to key members of
the Aceh independence movement.

Thailand's involvement in the Aceh peace process was primarily
through Surin who led the group during the four rounds of
negotiation.

The wise-man group was set up to address concerns expressed by
both sides. Initially, Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) -- the Free
Aceh Movement in Aceh, North Sumatra -- had insisted that an
international advisory group be established before the start of a
peace dialogue.

Indonesia was adamant that the Aceh problem not be
internationalized. As a result, this so-called "fictional entity"
was formed and provided a non-partisan approach to allow both
sides to proceed with the dialogue more confidently.

Apart from the efforts of non-government and informal groups,
the post-Sept. 11 era also helped to create an atmosphere more
conducive for a peaceful settlement in Aceh. Like the Tamil
Tigers fighting for independence in Sri Lanka, who have now
settled for autonomy, GAM realized that continued fighting would
only cause more casualties. After all, they have fought against
the might of Indonesia's military for the past 25 years in a
conflict that has claimed almost 12,000 lives. According to
Belgium-based International Crisis Group, 2,000 people alone were
killed last year.

In addition, GAM is facing a similar dilemma to the Tamil
Tigers -- the various struggles for self-determination around the
world no longer garner the international support that they used
to. Fortunately, the Acehnese independence movement has never
been branded with the tag of terrorism, being instead treated as
an insurgency. Within the region, the movement has received
strong moral support by non-government groups. Bangkok-based
Forum-Asia has held international conferences to highlight the
Acehnese's plight and their cause.

For Indonesia, national territorial integrity is at stake.
That explains why Indonesian leaders, backed by the armed forces,
had adopted such a hard-line attitude (even though they have now
yielded to international pressure and the Acehnese demands).
Jakarta wanted to send a strong signal to other independence
movements, in West Papua and Maluku for example, about its
determination.

Last July, the House of Representatives in Jakarta passed the
special autonomy law for Aceh, known as Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.
The law stipulates that the province can receive 70 per cent of
the revenue from oil and gas, while 30 per cent goes to the
central government. The province will also receive 80 per cent of
the revenue from agriculture and fisheries.

The law, which came into force in January this year, allows
Aceh to implement Islamic law. This special status is only given
to Aceh and reflects Jakarta's growing response to the desires of
local Muslims.

Like other ASEAN countries, which have sizable Muslim
populations, Thailand welcomes the peace prospect in Aceh. The
Thai government, especially those in the security apparatus, has
expressed serious concern about the spin-off effects of the Aceh
conflict for the country's southern region. They fear a series of
unpublished seizures of arms in the southern provinces destined
for Aceh indicates links between local Muslims with the Acehnese
fighters. The latest seizure of arms was in Satun province in
June.

That explains why Thailand and the Philippines have expressed
their readiness to dispatch monitoring teams to Aceh before the
signing of the peace agreement, after they were approached by
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the APEC Summit in
Mexico. Despite the Henry Dunant Center's confirmation that the
signing will take place on Dec. 9 in Geneva, GAM issued a
statement yesterday denying it.

GAM's position shows remaining issues related to a cease-fire,
disarmament and human rights have not been ironed out. Both sides
have been criticized for their violation of human rights. The
Acehnese also want to see the autonomy law implemented fully
along with changes in local laws and discriminatory measures
exercised by Indonesian bureaucracy.

Though the peace dialog in Aceh has not been internationalized
or publicized like the Sri Lanka peace talks, there is a
consensus in the international community for a peaceful
settlement in the province. Potential donors such as Japan and
the European Union have been informed of the progress.

Peace in Aceh will further strengthen the region and make the
war against terrorism in Southeast Asia more effective.