Welcoming new U.S. ambassador

Welcoming new U.S. ambassador

The U.S. has decided to appoint a new ambassador to Indonesia,
and personally I would like to extend a warm welcome to Lynn
Pascoe, with the hope that the already good relations between our
two countries will become better, closer and more intimate, for
both of our benefits.

To achieve this, the U.S. should study the real situation in
Indonesia and what has been done and achieved by Indonesia.

I am very happy at what Lynn Pascoe said in front of the U.S.
Senate Committee of foreign relations, which is that the U.S. can
encourage and help facilitate a peaceful outcome to the violence
in Aceh. We Indonesians want the same thing, but without
sacrificing national principles.

Lynn Pascoe surely knows that the present Indonesian
government, unlike the Old Order government of Sukarno and Hatta,
has decided to have talks with the rebels -- which is very
strange, especially in the eyes of the military. Rebellion is
against the law, and I think that any law-abiding government
would take the same firm steps to crush activities that are
against the law and Constitution.

The only exception is in handling the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
rebellion. The government surprisingly decided to negotiate with
the rebels to find a solution. Fourteen rounds of negotiations
were conducted, some assisted by foreigners, which was really
painful for the military. The military (TNI) wants to uphold the
law, as was done in the past, but the TNI is not an independent
organization. The TNI is subordinated to the civilian government,
and is obliged to do what is told by the government.

It is almost impossible to start new talks because this would
only mean falling again and again into GAM's trap, and the people
of Aceh, who have suffered for a long time and are now beginning
to see the light, would again experience unending suffering.

The new ambassador should know that Indonesia has entered the
reform era, where we are trying to make law king and punish law
violators.

In a nutshell, this is a picture of the present situation in
Indonesia, as far as Aceh and GAM are concerned.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta