"Breakthrough" reported in Aceh talks as discussions move on to "very important issues"

Indonesia and Aceh rebels still have differing views on possible EU operation

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The Indonesian government and separatist rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) achieved what was called a "breakthrough" in last week’s peace talks held near Helsinki.
      Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, whose Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) group has been mediating in the talks, said that the discussions have moved on to "very important issues".
      The next round of the talks will be held in Finland from May 26th to 31st. An actual peace agreement is expected in July or August.
      On Thursday this week Ahtisaari travels to Brussels to discuss the possible participation of the European Union in an observer mission in Aceh.
     
A force of between 100 and 200 EU observers has been proposed for Aceh. Indonesia has said that such a force would be too large. GAM, meanwhile, has called for a monitoring force of at least 1,500 outsiders.
      Ahtisaari emphasised that the monitoring operation would not be responsible for security, which would be left to local officials. He nevertheless emphasised that there is reason to keep tabs on the actions of the officials, so that local people might feel safe.
      Malik Mahmud, Prime Minister of GAM’s government in exile, said that the outsiders should remain in Aceh at least until elections are held in the province.
     
GAM also emphasised that the most difficult question - that of security - remained open. The movement sees the issue as the main topic of the next round of talks, and that therefore, the next round could be the most difficult.
      However, both rebels and government representatives were hopeful on Saturday that agreement could be reached in May on security questions as well.
      Some confusion was sparked by the announcement by the Indonesian Army that the force of about 40,000 soldiers in Aceh would be strengthened by another 3,000. Indonesia’s Minister of Information Sofyan Djalil said that the move was simply one of replacing some soldiers by others.
      According to other assessments, three new battalions - about 800 men - had been sent to the area.
      "This could be the armed forces’ slap in the face of the Indonesian government", noted one observer to the talks. He said that the government, which has agreed to talks with the rebels, might have a hard time keeping the country’s tough-minded and influential armed forces under control.
      GAM says that the problem is that the Indonesian armed forces have their own agenda in Aceh.
      GAM began its armed struggle for independence in 1976. Since then, at least 12,000 people have died in the violence.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Aceh representatives put forward model for self-government (15.4.2005)
  Positive atmosphere reported in new round of Aceh talks in Vantaa (13.4.2005)
  Aceh rebels criticise mediator Ahtisaari on eve of new round of talks (12.4.2005)
  Progress in Aceh talks - negotiations to continue in April (24.2.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat