Push for revival of Aceh dialog
<p>Push for revival of Aceh dialog</p><p>Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta</p><p>An intensive peace process should follow the visit of President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, or else
local people will lose trust in the new administration, observers
say.</p><p>Legislator Teuku Muhammad Nurlif and Acehnese rights
campaigner Hasballah M. Saad suggested that the President open a
dialog with all Acehnese civilians, including members of the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM), to tap more input on how the road to peace
should proceed.</p><p>Nurlif and Hasballah said that during his visit on Friday, the
President failed to identify the policies he would implement in
boosting the peace process in the conflict-torn province.</p><p>"The visit did not offer anything new to the Aceh people. I
hope the government will resume the dialog of the past,"
Hasballah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.</p><p>During his first visit since assuming power on Friday, Susilo
maintained that special autonomy status was the best way to
resolve the Aceh conflict.</p><p>The five-hour visit was made just one week after Susilo
extended the state of civil emergency in the province for six
months. GAM rebels have been fighting for independence since
1976.</p><p>More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed
since that time.</p><p>Under the special autonomy scheme introduced on Jan. 1, 2001,
Aceh is free to run its own affairs except for areas concerning
defense, finance, foreign relations, and religious affairs.</p><p>Hasballah said that the previous Aceh peace process had led to
the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), although this
later collapsed.</p><p>"The fact that there has been an intention for dialog must be
followed up as a new starting point," he said.</p><p>Hasballah doubted the participants in a dialog with the
President on Friday truly represented the Aceh people. Some 400
people were selected by the local government to attend the one-
hour dialog.</p><p>Beside organizing a dialog with Aceh people, Hasballah
suggested that the president assign ministers or aides to resume
talks with GAM leaders.</p><p>Nurlif, meanwhile, expected the government to focus on
innovative policies to help the province's economy recover after
decades of conflict.</p><p>Taking an example, he said the government could revive the
supply of gas and energy from Arun to big companies located in
Aceh, such as the fertilizer and paper firms.</p><p>Gas supply to these companies has been terminated for the sake
of exports.</p><p>"I think Pak Purnomo (Minister of Energy and Mineral
Resources) should resign if he fails to supply energy to local
companies," Nurlif said.</p><p>Both Nurlif and Hasballah called for the establishment of a
national committee to help find solutions to the Aceh conflict.</p><p>The committee could consist of Acehnese leaders and non-
Acehnese figures who are familiar with the real needs of people
in the westernmost province.</p><p>Commenting on the plan to grant Aceh rebels amnesty, Hasballah
and Nurlif suggested that the government specify what policies
would be implemented after the amnesty was granted.</p><p>"The social and economic aspects of ex-rebels should also be
taken into account," Hasballah said.</p>
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, or else
local people will lose trust in the new administration, observers
say.</p><p>Legislator Teuku Muhammad Nurlif and Acehnese rights
campaigner Hasballah M. Saad suggested that the President open a
dialog with all Acehnese civilians, including members of the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM), to tap more input on how the road to peace
should proceed.</p><p>Nurlif and Hasballah said that during his visit on Friday, the
President failed to identify the policies he would implement in
boosting the peace process in the conflict-torn province.</p><p>"The visit did not offer anything new to the Aceh people. I
hope the government will resume the dialog of the past,"
Hasballah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.</p><p>During his first visit since assuming power on Friday, Susilo
maintained that special autonomy status was the best way to
resolve the Aceh conflict.</p><p>The five-hour visit was made just one week after Susilo
extended the state of civil emergency in the province for six
months. GAM rebels have been fighting for independence since
1976.</p><p>More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed
since that time.</p><p>Under the special autonomy scheme introduced on Jan. 1, 2001,
Aceh is free to run its own affairs except for areas concerning
defense, finance, foreign relations, and religious affairs.</p><p>Hasballah said that the previous Aceh peace process had led to
the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), although this
later collapsed.</p><p>"The fact that there has been an intention for dialog must be
followed up as a new starting point," he said.</p><p>Hasballah doubted the participants in a dialog with the
President on Friday truly represented the Aceh people. Some 400
people were selected by the local government to attend the one-
hour dialog.</p><p>Beside organizing a dialog with Aceh people, Hasballah
suggested that the president assign ministers or aides to resume
talks with GAM leaders.</p><p>Nurlif, meanwhile, expected the government to focus on
innovative policies to help the province's economy recover after
decades of conflict.</p><p>Taking an example, he said the government could revive the
supply of gas and energy from Arun to big companies located in
Aceh, such as the fertilizer and paper firms.</p><p>Gas supply to these companies has been terminated for the sake
of exports.</p><p>"I think Pak Purnomo (Minister of Energy and Mineral
Resources) should resign if he fails to supply energy to local
companies," Nurlif said.</p><p>Both Nurlif and Hasballah called for the establishment of a
national committee to help find solutions to the Aceh conflict.</p><p>The committee could consist of Acehnese leaders and non-
Acehnese figures who are familiar with the real needs of people
in the westernmost province.</p><p>Commenting on the plan to grant Aceh rebels amnesty, Hasballah
and Nurlif suggested that the government specify what policies
would be implemented after the amnesty was granted.</p><p>"The social and economic aspects of ex-rebels should also be
taken into account," Hasballah said.</p>