Why peace talks with GAM again?

I read with surprise, even shock, an article titled Aceh peace talks to go ahead in Switzerland in (The Jakarta Post, on Feb. 2, page 2). Peace talks to go ahead again? From the depths of my heart I say that our government has no self-respect by having talks with members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

All the problems in Aceh have been caused by the proclamation of independence by a small group on Dec. 4, 1976 led by Dr. Teungku Hasan M Di Tiro. Tengku Hasan left Aceh on March 28, 1979 to a safer place in Scandinavia when things got too hot for his liking and remains there to this very day. So why dialog again?

In fact, the decree of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) no VIII/MPR/2000 clearly stated that the President should give serious attention and take a firm stance against all kinds of separatist movements, which endanger the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia, at all costs. We should remember that one of the GAM commanders, Abu Daud Sofyan said that GAM had declared war on Indonesia on April 22, 2001. GAM's commander-in-chief also vowed never to have dialogs again and that they would fight to the last drop of blood.

However, dialogs should be conducted with the common people of Aceh to find ways and means to restore their normal lives as soon as possible.

SOEGIH ARTO

Jakarta