Resolving Aceh issue needs realistic stance

By Desra Percaya

LONDON (JP): Since the downfall of the New Order regime, the threat of disintegration has been hanging over Indonesia. This is mainly prevalent in the westernmost and easternmost parts of Indonesia, namely Aceh and Irian Jaya. The problem is on the top of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's priority list, as reflected in her first Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Indeed, her coming to power has been accompanied by a great expectation that the process to find a comprehensive solution to the issue, especially Aceh, would be intensified in a clear and coherent manner. However, this will be meaningless if the leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) prefer violence to achieve their aspirations of independence.

It is widely understood that the root causes of the conflict in Aceh are economic imbalance, political injustice, ignorance of local values, and deprivation of the people. Add to this the repressive policy of the past government. This situation was politically exploited by some diehard Acehnese, particularly members of the GAM separatist group, to demand independence or separation from the unitary state of Indonesia -- a demand accompanied by force and terror.

Grievances were not properly addressed, and the past government responded with force as well. The suffering of the people hence deepened dramatically.

While the government's security apparatus is intensifying efforts to restore security and order, the armed elements of GAM are making every effort to defend their position and the people are caught in between. The almost daily revelation of killings and violence has become normal and seems to be merely considered as the consequence of a conflict situation. What is more worrying is that this cycle of conflict tends to create a violent generation, which will prolong the conflict in the years to come. Thus, the saga of Aceh is still far from a happy resolution.

Despite its shortcomings, the dialog initiated by the Abdurrahman Wahid government has been praised by many Acehnese and the international community. Indeed, dialog should, among other things, provide opportunities to understand respective underlying concerns and to build trust and confidence towards a political settlement. Nevertheless, one difficulty in negotiating with GAM has been to comprehend its negotiating position, particularly the distinction between its wishes and reality.

The ailing top leadership of GAM has mainly caused this stumbling block through repeated rhetorical assertions linked to incidents that goes back centuries, stating that Aceh must be "decolonized." This stance has failed to be translated into a clear negotiating position. The fact is that the decolonization issue in the framework of the United Nations is related and limited to 16 non-self-governing territories as listed by the 24th Committee of the UN General Assembly -- while Aceh is not on the list at all.

Worse, the claim of decolonization has been exploited to spread revulsion against the Javanese as the supposed colonial power. The recent killings in Central Aceh are evidence of the powerful and devastating negative impact of combining racial hatred and opposition against the central government. This incident reconfirms the fact that GAM resorts to indiscriminate killings, intimidation and terror. Unfortunately, the international community has been lacking in attention. Again, it is innocent civilians that have become victims of the protracted conflict.

The latest peace talks in Switzerland have indicated that the negotiations face an impasse. This fact underlines once again that one of the greatest obstacles has been to bridge the gap between the demand for independence and the government's offer of special autonomy. In fact, the main barrier has been the political dimension. For as long as political differences are not reconciled, violence will increase. This is particularly true as the issue of independence remains on the table. As a result, it will be nearly impossible to eliminate mutual suspicion as well as to build trust and confidence, let alone security.

GAM leaders must fully understand that, for many years, efforts to break away from the Republic of Indonesia by any means, including force, have failed. No country supports GAM's demand for independence. The rise of President Megawati and the recent passing of the autonomy law on the Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam should be seized as an opportunity to resolve differences by peaceful means.

GAM leaders must be realistic enough to work within the democratic state of Indonesia. Otherwise, they will remain prisoners of their own wishful thinking.

The writer works at the International Organizations Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.