Six more peace zones named in Aceh

Nani Farida and Ibnu Matnoor The Jakarta Post Banda Aceh, Aceh

The Joint Security Committee (JSC) named on Monday six new peace zones to shore up the fragile peace deal between rebels and the government, which brought an end to almost three decades of a separatist war in the restive province of Aceh.

The announcement brings the number of peace zones to seven, and comes one day after Aceh embarked on the crucial demilitarization phase that will last five months.

The six new peace zones encompass the subdistrict of Kawai XVI in West Aceh regency, Peusangan in Bireuen, Sawang in South Aceh, Tiro in Pidie, Simpang Keramat in North Aceh, and Idi Tunong in East Aceh.

The first demilitarized zone was established on Jan. 25 for the subdistrict of Indrapuri in Aceh Besar regency, where both rebels and government forces are prohibited from carrying guns.

In the six additional zones, soldiers, police and members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will also be able to move freely, but will not be allowed to carry weapons.

A statement from the JSC said on Monday both parties had also agreed that "no political or clandestine activities will take place within the peace zones".

The two sides would also be prohibited from conducting "provocative acts", it added.

But the peace zones would not be effective until after two weeks of preparations, said JSC officials.

"The agreement on these six (additional) peace zones clearly shows the commitment by both parties to the peace process, and to the people of Aceh, as we move into the very important demilitarization phase," said Maj. Gen. Tanongsuk Tuvinun of Thailand in the statement.

The Thai general is the senior envoy of the JSC, which is comprised of representatives from the government, GAM and foreign monitors from the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC).

He said the establishment of the zones, which is a critical step towards the demilitarization stage, is to improve security and to allow foreign donors to deliver humanitarian and economic development aid in Aceh.

"We've had a good couple of weeks. Deaths and armed clashes are even lower than they have been, and now we've got these peace zones," said Tuvinun.

"The JSC has been working very hard on this, and it has kept its word with the people," he added.

The zones were part of the historic peace agreement signed in Geneva, Switzerland, between GAM and the government on Dec. 9, 2002, to bring an end to 26 years of war in the resource-rich province.

In accordance with the truce, both sides began the process of demilitarization on Sunday, in which the rebels would lay down arms in designated areas for five months.

The demilitarization phase also required the military to retreat to their barracks, and the police to revert the role of its elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob) from a special strike force to its original function.

However, the demilitarization phase appeared ineffective on Monday, as the rebels had yet to store weapons, and security forces had yet to recall their soldiers to defensive positions.

GAM spokesman Teungku Kamaruzzaman said the rebels were ready to lay down 20 percent of their arms in at least 32 locations across Aceh, which would only be known by the HDC.

"We will complete the disarming of all our weapons in five months," he added, declining to mention the number of arms belonging to GAM.

The separatist group has been fighting for an independent Islamic state in Aceh since 1976.

Aceh, where some 10,000 people died in the prolonged conflict, has seen a major decline in bloodshed since the December signing of the landmark accord brokered by the HDC, which has mediated peace talks since 2000.

The government has accused GAM of trying to disrupt the improving security by making major violations to the truce.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the government would announce its new stance on the peace agreement this week.

"There are too many violations, irregularities and distortions (of the accord), most of which have been committed by GAM," he said during a dialog with locals on Sunday in Lhokseumawe, the main town of North Aceh.

Susilo, who flew to Aceh to mark the start of the demilitarization phase, said the JSC had explicitly blamed "serious violations" on the separatists.

"Now, we have to make sure whether we will all comply with all the agreements drawn up in the peace pact or not," he added, without elaborating further.