Finns still lurk in background of peace process
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By Sami Sillanpää
Dozens of Finns have been involved in the peace process of Aceh. The best-known was President Martti Ahtisaari, whose mediation efforts led to the peace.
Finland has the largest presence in the European Union peace monitoring effort. The Finns, led by General Jaakko Oksanen, are responsible for many of the most important tasks in the project.
"President Martti" is still a familiar name in Aceh, and Ahtisaari visits the area about once a year.
Under the peace treaty, Ahtisaari's Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) is approached if there are problems.
"The situation in Aceh has calmed down. However, there are administrative problems, such as the fact that the reintegration fund is bogged down in red tape. It is a cause for concern that administrative problems are reflected in people's everyday lives", said CMI executive director Kalle Liesinen during a visit to Aceh in December.
In the autumn of 2005 Liesinen was a peace monitor in Aceh responsible for disarming the guerrillas.
Juha Christensen, an entrepreneur from Lahti and an expert on Indonesia operated on his own initiative in the background of the peace talks as a mediator. He now lives in Banda Aceh and heads the programme of the international Interpeace Institute.
Ahtisaari is the chairman of the board of the organisation.
The task of Interpeace is to monitor peace developments, and to maintain contact with the main parties. Christensen feels that the rise of Aceh from the long conflict and the tsunami has been "surprising".
"We have to understand the starting point. Many challenges remain, but the fact that we have gone this far is unique."
According to Christensen, the most important thing for Aceh right now is to create jobs. The urgency is increased by the fact that most of the foreign aid organisations plan to leave Aceh by 2009.
Christensen feels that it is possible for Finnish investments or educational projects to be provided to Aceh.
"Finns would certainly be listened to in Aceh. There are certain special emotions here toward Finland."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 12.1.2008
More on this subject:
 Aceh: former arch-enemies learn to get along
Links:
Crisis Management Initiative
Interpeace
SAMI SILLANPÄÄ / Helsingin Sanomat
sami.sillanpaa@hs.fi
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