Ulema calls for TNI-GAM dialog

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.