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."