'RI finished should military bomb Aceh'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government's revised policy on Aceh has drawn sharp criticism from numerous figures both in Aceh and in Jakarta, who said it would not solve the prolonged problem.

Sjafii Ma'arif, chairman of the second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, said intensifying military pressure without a comprehensive solution in the war-ravaged province was a grave mistake because it would only worsen the situation, and would pave the way for the country's disintegration.

"The military approach will not solve the complicated problem, unless we plan to destroy the whole territory. And once the territory is bombarded, Indonesia will become a part of history," Sjafii told The Jakarta Post when asked to comment on the government's Aceh policy.

Following a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the Aceh issue on Monday, the government announced that while the military operation would continue its bid to bring the separatists under control, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was given an ultimatum to accept Jakarta's offer for a limited autonomy by December, as a prerequisite for further dialog to seek a solution.

Syafii, also a member of the government's team assigned to give input on the Aceh problem, said that to be consistent and fair, the government should set up a human rights tribunal to try all those involved in crimes against humanity, whether they be military (TNI), police or GAM.

He reiterated that the Aceh problem was quite complex and, thus, required a complete and peaceful solution that would satisfy all parties, not merely a military operation that would eliminate all those in favor of separation.

The government has designed a comprehensive approach but, in reality, it has given a higher priority to the repressive approach to end the conflict.

Learning from the government's failure to handle the separatism and social conflicts in East Timor, Papua and Maluku, the House of Representatives in 1999 proposed a comprehensive solution to the complicated problem but the last three civilian leaders have been unable to shift away from the repressive approach to a more humane one.

Meanwhile, the government has not yet been able to determine precisely who is behind the alleged arms sales by TNI elements to GAM, reportedly in a bid to prolong the conflict and enrich the perpetrators.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, leader of the government's negotiating team on Aceh, was disappointed with the government's policy but said he could understand its difficult position.

"I am unhappy with the suspension of the dialog, but I understand that the new policy issued is not without its reasons," Wiryono told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

He also said the government seemed to be taking advantage of what they perceived was a weakened and divided GAM.

He stressed that the policy is not an ideal condition for negotiation because the deadline the government set for GAM "is probably not what we need".

Teungku Agam, deputy spokesman for GAM in East Aceh, denounced the government's new policy, saying GAM was committed to further dialog but it would still defend Aceh against TNI aggression.

"GAM will stick to the July Geneva agreements that both sides will continue further dialogs to seek a comprehensive solution to the prolonged conflict," he said.

He said GAM would not comply with the government's unilateral actions and it was ready to continue the war if Indonesia insisted on the military option

He said Jakarta made the decision because the government and the military have become keenly aware that they had lost support in Aceh after numerous broken promises, dating back to the early 1950s.

Thamren Ananda, a prodemocracy activist in Banda Aceh, concurred and said the Indonesian government would be unable to end the conflict because it had deceived the people on too many occasions.

Imam Suja, an influential Muslim intellectual in Aceh, was more upbeat on the government's policy, saying that the decision now rested with GAM.

"Now, it depends on GAM on whether it will accept it (limited autonomy) or not," he said.

However, Imam, also chairman of the Aceh chapter of Muhammadiyah, said the government could not force GAM to accept the special autonomy offer because, there was no certainty that all problems in the past would be rectified.