RI officials, GAM rebels agree to continue dialog for peace
RI officials, GAM rebels agree to continue dialog for peace
GENEVA (Agencies): Indonesian government officials and separatist rebels wrapped up two days of talks Sunday promising to continue working toward peace in the troubled province of Aceh.
In a joint statement they said the talks, held at a secret location in Switzerland, had confirmed their "commitment to dialog."
"Both parties identified challenges and opportunities of the dialog process toward the solution of the situation in Aceh on political and security aspects. In this respect, both parties agree to continue the dialog process," the statement said.
The government delegation and representatives from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) did not announce any new developments in the talks, but said they would meet again in September.
Both parties also agreed to follow up on an earlier agreement to hold a widespread dialog "involving broad elements of the Acehnese society, including the Free Aceh Movement." They said it would take place in Aceh as soon as possible.
The talks came the day after separatist violence in Aceh left at least three people dead.
The government has been in talks with separatist rebels in a bid to calm violence in the province which has claimed thousands of lives.
The two sides entered into a truce last year. However, it collapsed in February amid escalating violence.
The Swiss meetings, which allow negotiators to meet on neutral territory, are organized by the Henry Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Earlier this week, the human rights group Amnesty International claimed that the talks were not giving a high enough priority to protecting civilians.
"Despite a succession of previous agreements, violence has escalated over the past year and civilians continue to suffer grave human rights abuses at the hands of both the Indonesian security forces and the Free Aceh Movement," the organization said.
"All efforts to resolve the situation in Aceh through dialog rather than force are welcome, however too often human rights are sacrificed in the search for peace and security."