his was conveyed by Acheh political observer Otto Syamsuddin Ishak when he spoke with Sinar Harapan on Tuesday June 28 in relation to the announcement that 20 per cent of Acheh still under the full control of the TNI (armed forces) and categorised as “black zones” [zones still controlled by GAM]. “This is counterproductive in [the context of post tsunami] rehabilitation and reconstruction which is currently being carried out there”, he said.

In addition to this, Ishak also explained that the status of TNI troops which are deployed in Acheh is still without a clear legal umbrella now that the state of civil emergency has been reduced to one of civil authority.

Because of this therefore, in accord with the change in Acheh’s status, he is asking that troops levels in Acheh be reduced immediately and that the territorial system there be strengthened.

Separately meanwhile, the Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, AS Widodo, said that the troop numbers in

Acheh will not be reduced in accordance with last week’s agreement reached at a consultation meeting between the government and the People’s Representative Assembly.

This was insisted upon by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who said that the TNI’s presence in Acheh is to maintain security in the context of the integrated operation. The president mentioned five operations, which will continue to be carried even though Acheh is no longer under a state of civil emergency. (ino/ega)

Notes:

1. Integrated Operation - the operation to restore government administration, the humanitarian operation, the law enforcement operation, economic recovery and the operation to restore security.

Activist groups send letter to Yudhoyono supporting Acheh  peace negotiations

wenty five activist organisations have issued a statement supporting peace negotiations between the Indonesian government and the Free Acheh Movement (GAM). The statement which was contained in letter addressed to the president of the Republic of Indonesia and the GAM leadership in exile was dated June 24.

The signatories of the letter stated that they totally support the negotiations which have already entered their fourth round. They said they believe that the negotiations which have taken place so far have produced positive developments for the peace process in Acheh.

“The interim dialogue which is currently taking place, has increased the optimism of the Achenese and Indonesian people, that peace will be created in Acheh which has already be devastated as a result of the [armed] conflict and the tsunami disaster”, they wrote in the letter which was also received by Acheh Kita on Thursday June 30.

They expressed deep regret however over position being taken in a number of circles such as the members of the People’s Representative Assembly (DPR) which has asked the government to end the current negotiations with GAM. According to the signatories, the anti-negotiation position being taken by assembly members represents a negation of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Decree Number No X/MPRRI/2001 and MPR Decree Number VI/MPR/2002 on resolving the Acheh question peacefully and with dignity.

“The Achenese people who have hope in and are full of anxiety over the outcome of the negotiations are extremely disappointed with the anti-peace position being taken by them, [by people] who ipso facto do not originate from Acheh and do not understand the Acheh question”, they continued while expressing support for the moves by the two sides to invite observers from the European Union and ASEAN to monitor the results of a future peace agreement between the two sides.

In their letter they asked the Indonesian government and GAM, for the sake of the peace process, to continue the negotiations until a break through is reached; that the government resolve the Acheh conflict in accordance with MPR Decree Number X/MPR/2001 MPR Decree Number VI/MPR/2002; and that both sides immediately implement a ceasefire.

The 25 activists who sent the letter to the president and GAM leadership in exile came from a number of groups including the Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (Elsam), the Biak People’s Traditional Council, the North Sumatra chapter of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the Flores Justice and Human Rights Monitoring Institute, the East Java Public Legal Aid Foundation, the Indonesian Pusaka Institute, the Dompet Dhuafa Friends of Migrant Workers, Kinasih Women’s Solidarity, the Jakarta chapter of the Association of Indonesian Women for Justice (LBH APIK), the Makassar Legal Aid Foundation, BAKUMSU, the Makassar Independent Justice Monitoring Institute, KSPPM (a non-government organisation), the Institute for Press and Development Studies (LSPP), the Institute for Ecosoc Right, the Jakarta Labour Service and the Association of Anti-Military Activists (HANTAM). [dzie]

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