Some hope out of the gloom in post-tsunami Aceh

Some hope out of the gloom in post-tsunami Aceh

The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok

While people around the world marvel at the goodwill
demonstrated in the unprecedented effort to alleviate the effects
of the destruction the Dec. 26 tsunami visited upon the coastal
areas surrounding the Indian Ocean, Indonesia is enjoying its own
window of opportunity. The government in Jakarta and the rebel
Free Aceh Movement, based in the province that has seen the worst
of the devastation caused by the tsunami, have indicated a mutual
willingness to resume their peace talks, with the preliminary
round scheduled to take place in Finland later this week.

Though it might sound callous, if the conditions created by
the tsunami can increase the possibility of bringing to an end a
long-running conflict that has claimed more than 10,000 lives
over the past few decades, then all of Indonesia stands to
benefit.

While scrimmages between the government and the rebel forces
persist despite both the disaster and the upcoming talks,
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has downplayed their
significance. He has appeared to give credence to hopes that
talks could actually get off the ground.

Another flicker of hope has been discerned in Indonesia, the
world's most populous Muslim country and the home of dozens of
militant Islamic groups, although the country as a whole is
predominantly moderate.

The radical Islamic group Laskar Mujahidin has set up camp
close to hundreds of local and international volunteers at the
military airport in Aceh's provincial capital, Banda Aceh.

This group represents the military wing of a much larger
group, the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia, which was once headed by
Abu Bakar Bashir, who is currently on trial as the alleged leader
of Jamaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian terrorist organization
responsible for a series of deadly bomb attacks throughout the
region in recent years.

Despite their reputation for orchestrating indiscriminate acts
of violence, members of Laskar Mujahidin are now supporting
efforts to collect corpses still buried beneath the debris in
Aceh and to distribute food and medicine.

Representatives of the group have said that it would not
interfere with the activities of foreign troops operating in the
devastated province as long as they kept strictly to humanitarian
operations -- not bad for a group that has consistently called
for a holy war against the West.

Then again, a militant group insisting that it would not
interfere in the activities of foreign and local troops carrying
out a humanitarian mission in a time of crisis must not be
misconstrued as a change in attitude. All sides have simply been
wise enough to realize that on this occasion they have to show
consideration to the victims.

Nevertheless, as has been pointed out by the International
Crisis Group, hostilities are still being carried out, though in
a different form. While stopping short of armed resistance, the
Laskar Mujahidin has used the opportunity to stir up sentiment
against the U.S. and Australian troops who are working around the
clock to distribute food and essential aid to the restive
province.

Nevertheless, in this trying time, the international community
-- and Thailand in particular -- must stand side by side with the
long-suffering people of Aceh.

President Susilo, noting that Indonesia faced criticism for
its inability to protect humanitarian workers during the violence
in East Timor, which resulted in the deaths of scores of foreign
relief workers, has suggested it might be necessary to restrict
the activities and movements of foreigners in restive Aceh.

While such concern is to be welcomed, Jakarta must also be
willing to give peace a chance, particularly since it appears
that, at least for now, its adversaries in the region are willing
to do so.