Toward a lasting peace in the rebellions Aceh

Desra Percaya, New York

Following seven months of talks mediated by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Helsinki on Aug. 15 between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Few other troubled areas of the world could have witnessed more joy than the towns and cities of Aceh, where people have longed for the return of peace and normalcy for too long. The signing of the agreement points the way to a solution to the province's 30 years of conflict.

The MoU has brought both opportunities and challenges. It is a significant step toward peace that has no comparison in modern Indonesia. To begin with, this accord is the first time that the Indonesian government has ever concluded a peace accord with a separatist movement. It is also significant that, as a sign of good faith and seriousness, the government also agreed to an international monitoring mission in Aceh, and to allow GAM to establish a local political party in the province.

Learning from the failure of previous peace deals in Aceh, it may be said that while the negotiation of an agreement is a delicate process, the implementation of the agreement is far more challenging. The devil is in the details of the agreement, and both parties need to embark on serious follow-up. What is certain, for now, is that a solid foundation has been laid for the construction of peace in Aceh. Success -- that is, peace -- depends now on how well the two sides work together in compliance with the provisions of the deal, particularly in cases where it is violated.

It is worth observing that the road towards this agreement has been quite bumpy. There were, for example, the proponents of the militaristic approach in Jakarta, who failed to take account of the long-term benefits of achieving peace through dialog. In the end, however, they all ended up supporting the search for peace in Aceh.

Indeed, the agreement serves the paramount interest of the state, namely, maintaining the territorial integrity of the Republic. As a result, it will also send out a message to the nation that a demand for independence will not necessarily lead to the creation of a new state. The government will, therefore, be better able to channel its energies into development and the unfinished reform agenda of democratization.

Certainly, the readiness of the government to accept international monitors from three ASEAN countries and European Union is an unprecedented phenomenon. Although some nationalists have gripes about the overall deal, this brave decision by the government should be praised and regarded as evidence of its determination and genuine commitment to a peaceful settlement in Aceh, and the maturity of democracy in Indonesia.

For GAM, it is understandable that as a loose separatist movement whose leaders live in Stockholm, the movement lacks a strong grip and solid influence over its followers in the field, especially the armed elements. The fact that its leadership was out of touch with reality in the field was a key factor in the group's failure to successfully implement previous agreements.

It is therefore the responsibility of the leaders of the group to show greater commitment and involvement, and convince their followers in the field to fully implement the accord. Of particular interest here is the need for the leadership to ensure that the hard-liners do not stray from the terms of the accord.

While recognizing the importance of the agreement, one should not lose sight of the fact that the transformation of GAM from an armed separatist group into a political party will take some time. This will be one of the biggest challenges for GAM's leadership, which claims to be the sole representative of the Acehnese and also maintains that it has their full support.

In the end, both parties to the agreement should accept the challenge of the accord and commit to its sincere implementation. In view of the fact that both leaderships speak on behalf of the people, it is time to put the betterment of the lives of the Acehnese at the very core of the issue.

The return of peace to Aceh would certainly contribute to the recovery and rebuilding of the province after last year's earthquake and tsunami disaster. The Acehnese need a long and uninterrupted peace to forge their future.

In this regard, and with a view to offering the necessary assurances to both sides and the people of Aceh, a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and GAM leader Hasan di Tiro would certainly boost confidence about the attainment of lasting peace in the province.

Today, the path towards a lasting peace in Aceh has been clearly marked out.

The writer works with the Indonesian Mission to the United Nations, New York. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Indonesia. He can be reached at desrapercaya@hotmail.com.