Youths discuss peace for Aceh

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.