Some House leaders support local parties in Aceh
Tony Hotland The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Several leaders of the House of Representatives have expressed support for the government's plan to allow members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to set up local political parties, a key GAM demand for a lasting peace deal in Aceh but which has been opposed by some lawmakers.
The positive sign emerged during a meeting late on Sunday at the residence of Vice President Jusuf Kalla between top government officials and executives from nine political parties in the House. However, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which has the second largest faction in the House, was absent from the meeting.
House Speaker Agung Laksono, who is also deputy leader of the Golkar Party, the largest faction in the House, said on Monday he was optimistic the proposal on local parties would be endorsed by the House.
House Deputy Speaker Zaenal Ma'arif of the Star Reform Party (PBR) also was optimistic.
"Why wouldn't we endorse the proposal? We need to remember that this is perhaps the only way to establish peace in Aceh. As long as it is not against the Constitution, just go ahead," he said.
The government and GAM leaders concluded a week of peace talks on July 17 in Helsinki. One of the key points of the peace deal, aimed at ending decades of conflict in oil-rich Aceh, is a provision allowing GAM members to form local political parties as vehicles to contest local elections.
Some lawmakers have strongly opposed the proposal, saying it violates existing laws and could trigger other regions to demand similar treatment.
Kalla is optimistic nine of the 10 factions in the House will approve the local party proposal and provide a legal basis for it, either by revising Law No. 18/2001 on special autonomy for Aceh or Law No. 31/2002 on political parties.
Agung said most factions in the House would allow the government to sign the peace deal with GAM on Aug. 15 without first having to seek formal approval from the House.
But he said that before the signing, there would be a consultative meeting between lawmakers and the government, during which the government would explain the details of the peace deal and seek input for its implementation.
"It will not be a forum to seek approval because it is an agreement with Indonesians, not foreigners. But some elements in the deal will need the House's approval, such as the granting of amnesty (for rebels) and the creation of local parties in Aceh," said Agung, pointing out that revising the law on special autonomy for Aceh or the law on political parties would require the approval of the House.
Asked about the fact that some GAM leaders were no longer Indonesian citizens, Agung said what mattered was that they intended to re-embrace their Indonesian citizenship.
Some lawmakers had earlier demanded the government not sign the deal without first obtaining the House's approval, arguing that it was in essence a peace deal with foreigners.
Details of the Helsinki peace deal, which will be made public in its entirety following its signing on Aug. 15 include: terminating the conflict in Aceh peacefully and comprehensively; granting amnesty for GAM members and restoring all of their rights; GAM disarming and the Indonesian Military withdrawing reinforcement troops from Aceh; allowing former GAM members to contest elections; and monitoring of the peace deal by teams from the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.