Ulema calls for TNI-GAM dialog
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
With the six-month state of civil emergency in Aceh nearing an end, leading ulemas in the province suggested on Monday that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono revive a dialog with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels to settle decades of conflict there.
Chairman of the provincial ulemas council Muslim Ibrahim told a high-powered government delegation that people of Aceh were desperate for a normal life like their counterparts in the rest of the nation.
Muslim said the conflict in the province of 4.2 million people could not be solved through the use of arms, but deliberation and consensus, involving all groups in society that wish to see peace prevail in the territory.
"The government cannot seek a conflict settlement alone, but President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono needs to form a special team, which he leads himself and involves as much public participation as possible without prejudice," Muslim said.
His advice came amid rumors that Susilo's administration was initiating an informal meeting with GAM leaders in exile in Malaysia. Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin, however, denied the reports.
Those who were in Aceh for the meetings included Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, Minister of Social Services Bachtiar Chamsyah, Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'aruf, Minister of Finance Yusuf Anwar, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh.
The Cabinet members visited Aceh to get input from local government officials and community leaders about the implementation of the state of civil emergency, which was imposed on May 19 to replace martial law.
The government is evaluating the emergency status in the natural resource-rich province.
Contrary to Muslim's suggestion, Widodo said the operation to crush the rebels should go on in order to settle the conflict and restore peace.
"We have two agendas to push in order to solve the Aceh problem, namely enforcement of the special autonomy status for the province and to finish off the separatists," Widodo said after a three-hour, closed-door meeting with the civil emergency administration in Aceh.
He said the operation to stamp out rebellion would continue to restore security and order and put an end to the conflict. The target of the operation would include the capture of GAM leaders.
"Although generally the security condition in Aceh has improved, armed rebels are still present and their leaders remain at large," Widodo said.
Widodo, however, promised to convey all the input from the Acehnese, including the ulemas, to the president before deciding whether to extend or discontinue the state of civil emergency in the province.
The government and GAM had started unprecedented peace talks with mediation by the Swiss-based Henri Dunant Centre during the tenure of President Abdurrahman Wahid. A semblance of peace returned to Aceh for several months after the two sides signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in December 2002.
The peace agreement broke down in May 2003, prompting then President Megawati Soekarnoputri to declare martial law.
Separately, Aceh anticorruption activist Akhiruddin called on the government during the dialog to strictly uphold law in the province, particularly with officials that were involved in corruption.
"To solve the problem in Aceh, the new administration should win the trust of the people. A clean government would boost people's confidence in the government," he said.