Unfulfilled US$50m deal taints Aceh peace

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono disclosed on Thursday that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) once asked for US$50 million from the government for a peace deal in war-torn Aceh.

"(Sofyan) Ibrahim Tiba, on behalf of GAM, through certain individuals, asked me to compensate for the peace deal to help GAM, if the conflict in the province is ended," Susilo said after meeting Vice President Hamzah Haz at the latter's office.

He added that he turned down the request.

Sofyan is one of GAM's negotiators, who worked out the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) with the government. The peace deal was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, on Dec. 9, 2002.

Sofyan has denied asking the Indonesian government for the peace fund, and claimed instead that certain individuals from the minister's office offered him the compensation before both sides reached an agreement.

"I met Susilo in Singapore last year, just before the signing of the peace agreement. I asked him whether the government was serious about the offer, and he said yes," Sofyan told The Jakarta Post.

"I never asked for US$50 million in compensation; they offered (it to) me. Three officials from Susilo's office made the offer to me before the peace deal was signed," he said.

The question of the peace fund arose after a weekly magazine published a report on the meeting between Sofyan and Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla to discuss the compensation last month in Kuala Lumpur.

Susilo said that before meeting Jusuf, Sofyan had asked his office to hand over the money, but he rejected the request for reasons of accountability and transparency.

"I was aware of the meeting, but afterwards, there was no additional clarification or details concerning the compensation. Pak Jusuf told me by telephone that he returned to Jakarta and decided to ignore the request," he said.