Youths discuss peace for Aceh

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 70 young people coming from across Aceh province gathered in Banda Aceh on Wednesday to seek a common understanding on government policy and a peaceful solution to the conflict in Aceh.

"We hope that the dialog will yield new ideas and be a reference that can be developed to promote regional development policies," head of Aceh youth and sports affairs office Teuku Pribadi was quoted by Antara as saying in Banda Aceh on Wednesday.

Organized by the Aceh youth and sports affairs office, the one-day dialog was opened by Aceh Deputy Governor Azwar Abubakar.

At least 50 of the 70 participants were representatives of youth, student, and brotherhood organizations in the provincial capital, while the rest were delegates from districts and municipalities of the troubled province, where the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been fighting for independence since 1976.

The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, most of them innocent civilians.

Pribadi said the young people would evaluate political solutions to the Aceh conflict, the implementation of Islamic law, the empowerment of the people's economy and the acceleration of development in isolated areas.

"The recommendations of the dialog are also expected to be presented to a national youth dialog to be held next month," Pribadi said.

He noted that the all-Aceh youth dialog forms part of efforts to develop the role of the youth as active participants in regional development, as well as to assess the problems and to formulate proposed solutions to the challenges of globalization.

"We also expect the dialog to formulate programs, strategies and targets for efforts to overcome future challenges," he said.

Meanwhile, Azwar said on Wednesday that for a government-GAM dialog to succeed, the negotiators should show mutual amity.

"They should be amicable in their thinking, in their manner of talking and in their attitude," Azwar was quoted by Antara as saying.

"I think if all elements of Aceh society adopt a positive attitude, all disputes and personal conflict can be settled," he stressed.

Azwar said the armed conflict in Aceh was due to the fact that the people lacked amity, with most people tending to follow their emotions.

This is clear from the fact that many Acehnese make provocative statements.

"Sometimes, our thinking is illogical. That's why, a peaceful solution to the conflict has eluded us," Azwar said.

The responsibility for speeding up the settlement of the armed conflict in Aceh actually lies with the Acehnese people themselves, while the central government can only be expected to manage the situation through national policies which required the support from all elements in Aceh society, he said.

"During the armed conflict in Aceh, the number of orphaned children was recorded at 7,000 and their future should also be taken into consideration, that is, if we don't want them to join the separatist group in the future," he said.