TNI backs peace deal with GAM

TNI backs peace deal with GAM

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) has thrown its
weight behind an unprecedented peace accord to be signed in
Geneva with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S. announced at Bina Graha
presidential palace on Thursday that the two conflicting sides
support the initiative as part of efforts to end violence in
Aceh, where GAM has waged guerrilla warfare since 1976.

"We have to look at it in a positive light. We hope this
(accord) will contribute significantly to solving the problems in
Aceh," Widodo said.

"Every effort to solve the Aceh problem is worth making," he
added.

Earlier this week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto
said the accord could help reduce casualties and end suffering in
the resource-rich province. At least 300 people have been killed
in a series of violence in Aceh this year alone.

The joint understanding on humanitarian pause for Aceh is
slated to be signed by Indonesia's permanent representative to
the United Nations Hassan Wirayuda on behalf of the government
and GAM's health minister Zaini Abdullah on Friday morning Geneva
time. The event will take place behind closed doors and with the
media kept at a distance.

It is expected that the accord will reduce the level of
violence and constitute a means to promote the confidence of
people and the two parties in their common efforts to achieve a
peaceful settlement to the decades of conflict.

But citing the sensitivity of the situation and security
concerns, officials declined to reveal detailed arrangements for
the scheduled signing of the note.

Foreign minister Alwi Shihab is scheduled to personally
witness the signing. A ministry official has said GAM self-exiled
leader Hasan Tiro would not be present, but the Stockholm-based
rebel leader had "kept a watchful eye" on all three dialogs
preceding the signing of the accord.

The Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre for promoting
humanitarian dialog, which sponsors the historical event, has
offered a "fair and impartial environment" to the two parties for
the discussions.

Despite his support, President Abdurrahman Wahid refused on
Monday to call the pact a cease-fire, saying the use of the term
would indicate government recognition of GAM.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
Surjadi Soedirdja reiterated the government's stand in the pact
signing.

"The signing is literally called a humanitarian pause, there
is no other term for it," Surjadi said after attending a
ministerial meeting at the vice presidential office on Thursday.

The note of understanding, he said, was merely aimed at
allowing Acehnese people "to breathe in fresh air" amid their
daily suffering.

"During the interval, people can make their lives better, and
allow all parties concerned to contemplate. It turns out that
life is enjoyable in the absence of conflict," Surjadi said.

Such an atmosphere could encourage all parties to follow up on
their efforts until peace is achieved, he said.

Many believe the government's move to punish the perpetrators
of past atrocities in Aceh contributes to efforts to secure a
political settlement that will prevent the province from
seceding.

A joint military-civilian court is now trying 24 TNI soldiers
and a civilian charged with the premeditated murder of Islamic
teacher Tengku Bantaqiah last year. Another four human rights
abuse cases are in the pipeline.

Surjadi underlined Abdurrahman's refusal to call the signing
of the joint understanding a cease-fire, and warned that the
government would undertake "every possible means" to keep Aceh
part of the country if the accord failed.

"The memorandum of understanding is just a means. If it
falters, we will take them on again. It is only natural to make
sure that Aceh will not break away," he said.

Meanwhile, GAM's representative to the signing, Zaini, said a
cease-fire would last for three months and begin 15 days after
the signing of the memorandum, which was written by the two sides
during secret meetings that began in February.

"Such a truce would be very important for the Acehnese because
we don't want fighting any more," Zaini told AP in a telephone
interview from Stockholm, where he is based, before flying to
Geneva for the talks.

But he added that while the rebels would abide by such a
cease-fire agreement they would not drop their ultimate demand
for independence.

Discontent in Aceh has been exacerbated by widespread human
rights violations by members of the Indonesian Military and
unfair revenue sharing from exploitation of the region's natural
resources. (prb)