`Tsunami can boost peace prospect in Aceh'

`Tsunami can boost peace prospect in Aceh'

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Both the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
must capitalize on the outpouring of sympathy for the Acehnese in
the post-tsunami aftermath to reach a peaceful solution to the
protracted conflict, a former government negotiator said.

Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, formerly the government's chief
negotiator in the last round of negotiations with GAM, said on
Monday that the likelihood of both sides reaching a peaceful
resolution in a peace talks scheduled for this week was greater
than ever given the immense support both from the international
community and the people of Indonesia.

"The Indonesian government and GAM must seize the momentum
after the tsunamis. There has been a lot of good will from the
international community as shown in its commitment to engage in
the humanitarian efforts there. The same commitment was also
shown by the people of Indonesia with the pouring in of aid," he
told The Jakarta Post.

Wiryono led the Indonesian team in the peace talks brokered by
the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) in 2002 and 2003.

During the talks, GAM and the government both refused to back
down on their stance over the independence issue. Jakarta's
delegates reportedly refused to consider the idea of Aceh
becoming independent. The Free Aceh Movement has been struggling
for the independent state of Aceh for several decades, and after
six months of relative peace as a result of the two sides signing
a cessation of hostilities agreement in December 2002, the
government launched a major military offensive against the
separatists on May 19, 2003 and broke off peace talks.

In a bid to revive the peace prospects in the tsunami-battered
province, the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), a non-
governmental agency chaired by former Finnish president Martii
Ahtisaari will mediate talks between the Indonesian government
and GAM slated to be held in Helsinki this weekend.

However, the CMI declined to give details on the planned talks
`because of the sensitivity of the meeting'.

Scores of Indonesian officials were also tight-lipped over the
planned talks.

Analyst Dewi Fortuna Anwar of the Indonesian Institute of
Sciences (LIPI) shared Wiryono's view, saying that the scale of
the calamity could help bring about peace in the province.

"There is a hope that the scale of the disaster and the
movement for rebuilding Aceh will help lead to social and
political reconciliation between Indonesia and (the rebels),"
Dewi said.

Separately, GAM's spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah, speaking from
his home in Stockholm -- where most of the movement's exiled
leaders have gained citizenship -- said he had yet to receive an
invitation to any talks, but said GAM was ready to talk.

"Our political stance still remains. That is, we have never
closed the door to any talks," he was quoted by Agence France-
Presse. "So far we do not have any details: how many persons,
where, when, why and even who."

He reiterated that GAM would welcome any planned negotiations.

"This is a good time, we are looking forward to that," he
added. Any talks are likely to include GAM's self-styled prime
minister-in-exile Malik Mahmud and foreign minister Zaini
Abdullah.

Hassan di Tiro, GAM's aging founder, is recovering from a
heart attack and is not expected to attend.