Why, talk with GAM again?
While listening to a recent news broadcast on the Metro TV station, I was very surprised to hear that the government was preparing to renew its talks in Helsinki with the Acehnese separatist rebels, probably by the end of this month. Also, I cannot help wondering why our government does not learn from past bitter experience when dealing with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Already scores of talks have been held before, some with the help of foreign organizations to solve this domestic problem. But if the government is firm in their plan to talk again, with 100 percent chance of failure, then I would like to ask the government to pay some attention to the following matters. * The talks should be held only after GAM has signed a declaration that Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) is part of the Republic of Indonesia, proclaimed on Aug. 17, 1945 and that they publicly withdraw their independence proclamation for NAD that they made on Dec. 4, 1976 at Bukit Cokan. If not, there is no point in having any more talks with GAM. * Talks with fellow-Indonesians should be held in Indonesia and not abroad, because this is a purely domestic affair and there is enough room in Indonesia for negotiations, and the government is going to be talking with Indonesians. The problem of NAD is a domestic affair, and as such the government should not take the settlement of the conflict in that area into the international arena. (As President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was reported as saying in Media Indonesia on Feb. 7). * The so-called GAM leaders abroad, who are ashamed to be Indonesian and preferred to become foreigners, should be barred from these talks. Their actions in become foreigners is an insult to Indonesia. * Indonesia should avoid appointing a "heavy weight" delegation. A delegation comprising senior rank officers from the Ministry of Domestic Affairs would serve the purpose. No ministers should be involved. * The main agenda then should be "how to rebuild NAD and other affected areas (like North Sumatra) after the tsunami disaster". Our government should maintain its legal and honorable position. GAM must feel that they do not have the same status as members of the Indonesian delegation. Please note, previous governments have never treated rebels like ministers of a sovereign foreign country.
SOEGIH ARTO, Jakarta