PIB opposes war in Aceh, urges talks

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The New Indonesia Party (PIB) broke rank from mainstream political parties when they criticized the government's plan to launch a military crackdown against separatist rebels in Aceh.

The PIB, one of the newest political parties hoping to challenge the status quo in the 2004 elections, decried the government's "politics of violence" in addressing the nation's problems, saying that this approach had only fueled resentment among people in the region and their aspirations to secede from Indonesia.

"The PIB rejects the politics of violence and its intensification in conflict areas," the party said in a statement.

"Politics of violence is not an option, especially when diplomatic efforts have not been exhausted," it said.

The party, headed by noted economist Sjahrir, has been actively recruiting support among young people by offering an alternative to the existing political parties.

The House's leadership on Thursday gave the government the green light to launch a military operation in Aceh, if negotiations with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), scheduled to take place in Tokyo this weekend, fail.

With major political parties and most mainstream media supporting the government's plan to use force in Aceh, open opposition to the plan has been rare.

The PIB urged the Indonesian government and GAM to return to the negotiating table to ensure that peace would prevail in Aceh.