Susilo orders troops in Aceh to back off
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered the Indonesian Military (TNI) to stop its offensive against Aceh rebels in a bid to facilitate the signing of peace deal scheduled for Aug. 15 in Jakarta.
The order came after a series of clashes in the province as the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist negotiators inked a draft peace agreement in Helsinki on Sunday.
At least five rebels, four TNI soldiers and two civilians have been killed since then, according to GAM. The TNI says there have only been two clashes, in which four separatists and one soldier died and two were wounded.
"The President has asked TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto not to launch any more offensives against the separatists for the sake of the peace deal," Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi said after a Cabinet meting on Wednesday.
Minister of Communications and Information Sofyan A. Djalil, one of the government's negotiators, said the President also asked the TNI leadership to disseminate points in the peace deal to soldiers in the field.
"The President made it very clear in the meeting that the TNI must take a defensive posture in case of attacks by GAM fighters. There is a possibility that they (soldiers) will remain in their barracks in the meantime," he said.
Negotiators from both camps on Sunday concluded their fifth round of talks with a draft deal that could end decades of armed conflict in the province. The peace deal stipulates, among others, the withdrawal of reinforcement troops from Aceh and the surrender of GAM weapons. The government is also considering allowing GAM to form its own political party would be able to contest local elections in 2009.
Sofyan said with the completion of the draft, the government would soon meet with the House of Representatives to discuss the points agreed to in the draft, as most would probably require amendments to existing laws to take effect.
"As demanded by GAM, the government cannot disclose the details of the draft to the public yet, not until the MOU is signed, because they will need time to discuss the draft with their fighters in Aceh," he said.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto said there were several articles in the draft that would accommodate any dispute arising from the deal.
"In case there are certain people who disagree with points in the peace deal and eventually cause disputes, there are clauses in the draft that allows the government and GAM to settle them peacefully," he said.
Several legislators have opposed the deal, especially in relation to the government's decision to accommodate GAM's demand to establish a local political party in the province.
The House may present an obstacle in passing amendments to laws that would recognize the existence of locally based political parties.
Key points of peace deal
* The Indonesian government will grant an amnesty to GAM members after the signing of a peace agreement. The amnesty will restore the political, economic and social rights of GAM members.
* GAM agrees to surrender their weapons, as well as gathering and destroying them. But the demilitarization process would take place in line with the withdrawal of non-organic TNI soldiers and National Police from Aceh. All the processes should start on Sept. 15 and be complete on Sept. 31.
* The government and GAM should review the relationship between the central government with the local administration in Aceh under existing laws.
* Political and social rights of GAM members should be ensured after the amnesty is granted.
* In the economic sector, Aceh will apply an "open" economy for the welfare of its people.
* Both parties agree to involve countries from the European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to monitor the implementation of the peace deal.
Source: Indonesian negotiator Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin.