Push for revival of Aceh dialog

Push for revival of Aceh dialog

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

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.

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.

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.

"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.

During his first visit since assuming power on Friday, Susilo
maintained that special autonomy status was the best way to
resolve the Aceh conflict.

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.

More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed
since that time.

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.

Hasballah said that the previous Aceh peace process had led to
the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), although this
later collapsed.

"The fact that there has been an intention for dialog must be
followed up as a new starting point," he said.

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.

Beside organizing a dialog with Aceh people, Hasballah
suggested that the president assign ministers or aides to resume
talks with GAM leaders.

Nurlif, meanwhile, expected the government to focus on
innovative policies to help the province's economy recover after
decades of conflict.

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.

Gas supply to these companies has been terminated for the sake
of exports.

"I think Pak Purnomo (Minister of Energy and Mineral
Resources) should resign if he fails to supply energy to local
companies," Nurlif said.

Both Nurlif and Hasballah called for the establishment of a
national committee to help find solutions to the Aceh conflict.

The committee could consist of Acehnese leaders and non-
Acehnese figures who are familiar with the real needs of people
in the westernmost province.

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.

"The social and economic aspects of ex-rebels should also be
taken into account," Hasballah said.