The Sydney Morning Herald, February 23, 2005
Acehnese rebels soften demands
Jakarta: Separatists in the tsunami-ravaged Indonesian province of Aceh will drop their
demand for independence if Jakarta withdraws its security forces, allows them to form
a political party and eventually holds a referendum on any settlement, a member of
their delegation at newly reconvened peace talks in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, said.
This is the first time in the 29-year history of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that
separation from Indonesia or a vote on independence has not been a prerequisite to
any resolution of the conflict, said Damien Kingsbury, an Australian political adviser to
the GAM negotiators, on Monday.
"There's a recognition [within GAM] that the claim for independence is part of the
problem and they're willing to negotiate on this point to achieve a comprehensive and
lasting peace," he said. "But they also recognise they need a high level of
self-government and there would have to be high guarantees on this."
Indonesian officials welcomed the concession, but said some of the associated
demands were unrealistic.
Dr Kingsbury admitted that the Boxing Day tsunami, in which 122,000 Acehnese died
and 114,000 are listed as missing, and the ensuing global spotlight on the province
had precipitated GAM's change in attitude.
"They recognise that with the international focus on Aceh this presents the best
opportunity for a decent negotiated outcome," he said.
GAM's negotiating position for a settlement consists of a cessation of hostilities and
removal of forces to camp; the withdrawal of all Indonesian security personnel from
Aceh except locally recruited and locally accountable police officers; meaningful
self-rule, including provincial elections which GAM could contest as a political party;
and a vote by the Acehnese to ratify the agreement.
The Guardian
Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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