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Government, GAM Sign Peace Deal, Acehnese Celebrate
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Acehnese
watch the signing of the peace agreement on TV at Baiturahman
mosque in Banda Aceh. (Reuters)
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By
Dandy Koswaraputra, IOL Correspondent
BANDA
ACEH, August 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Just a few minutes after
the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed in
Helsinki a peace agreement ending a 30-year conflict in the troubled
province, Acehnese back home joyfully celebrated the landmark deal
with prayers.
"I
am very happy. I can live and study now with no fears of crossfire
between the government and Aceh people," Zumrotin Aini, a 14
year-old junior high school student, told IslamOnline.net.
Indonesian
Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin and GAM leader Malik Mahmood signed
the memorandum of understanding (MoU) which provides for an amnesty
and disarming of the separatists and restricts government troop
movements in Aceh.
Thousands
Acehnese along with a number of local government and the Aceh
Monitoring Mission (AMM) officials held a celebration ceremony at the
compound of Baiturrahman Mosque in the capital Banda Aceh.
They
watched the milestone event live from Helsinki through televisions
provided by the Aceh administration.
After
the MoU was signed, those who gathered at the compound of the mosque
were overwhelmed by joy, some tearful.
They
were then reading verses from the Noble Qur'an, expressing gratitude
to God after their long-dream has come true.
Similar
celebrations were also organized in a number of the ex-separatist
strongholds, such as Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, Langsa and Perlak.
The
devoutly Muslim province of 4 million people on the northern tip of
the island of Sumatra has been a battleground since 1976 when GAM
launched its campaign for independence, angered by what it said was
Jakarta's exploitation of the province's resources.
When
they convened for a first round of Helsinki talks in January it was
the first time the parties had come face to face since May 2003, when
Jakarta declared martial law and launched a major military offensive
in Aceh.
One
Country Two Systems
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Awaluddin
(L) shakes hands with Malik (R) in the presence of Finland's
former president Martti Ahtisaari (C) after signing the peace
agreement. (Reuters)
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Under
the six-article agreement, the government agrees to a number of
political, legal and economic compensation for Aceh.
The
first article relates to Aceh administration, containing new
regulations and authorities for the new government.
It
gives the province the right to have its own regional flag and hymn.
The
new government will renew canon or the local regional government
considering history, customs and contemporary laws.
The
article also includes the establishment of the Head of State (Wali
Nanggroe) institution – a type of symbol of the Aceh state guardian.
"Our
political system will be self governance, but we cannot say it is
adopting Taiwan or Hong Kong systems," Bakhtiar Abdullah, GAM
spokesman, told IOL from Helsinki by phone call.
"I
can only say that we are adopting Aceh system."
Article
two stipulates that within 18 months from the signing of the
agreement, the Jakarta government prepares political and legal
requirements for the establishment of local parties in Aceh in
consultation with the parliament.
For
long GAM wanted to form its own party while Jakarta resisted changes
to election laws requiring all local parties to have a national
presence.
Article
three states the government will grant amnesty for ex-GAM members and
free all political prisoners of the ex-separatist group without
condition, except those involved in purely criminal activities.
Under
the fourth article on security regulation, GAM will surrender all
weapons and explosive to be destroyed. The handover process will take
place from September 15 to December 31 of this year.
Article
five relates to the role of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), which
consists of European Union and ASEAN representatives, in guarding and
assisting the peace process, including supervising rehabilitation
process of ex-GAM members into the community.
The
last article of the MoU stipulates that in case of any disagreements
in implementing the deal AMM will facilitate the dispute between the
two parties.
Anxieties
"This
is a historic moment for Indonesian government and GAM,"
Professor Abdi Wahab, rector Syiah Kuala University, told IOL in Banda
Aceh.
"I
hope the both sides can socialize the MoU into the people in grass
root," he added.
"The
obstacle is how to socialize the six-point of the agreement especially
for ordinary people in grass root," Professor Wahab said.
Despite
the celebrations and prevailing jubilation mood, some expressed
concerns about the implementation of the agreement.
"I
am not sure whether GAM is willing to surrender all weapons and
whether victims of the separatists' cruelty can accept the peace
agreement," Yuswardi, editor in chief of Koran Acehkita
daily, told IOL.
People
in remote areas, either victims of GAM's or the Indonesian military (TNI)’s
cruelties, do not seem so reactive in responding the peace agreement,
preferring to wait and see.
"I
don’t know I should be happy or sad. I actually do not care much
about it as I suffer bad experiences from the conflict," said
Husein Jamal, a resident of Tiro village who was once tortured by TNI
on charges of being a GAM member.
A
victim of GAM’s violence also expressed the same feeling, saying the
peace agreement cannot erase the cruelty of the separatists and
demanding them to take responsibility for all what they did in the
past.
"If
the peace is not favor with us I will make revenge," Hilmi, a
resident of remote Bireuen who lost one of his eyes and five of his
family tortured and killed by GAM, told IOL.
However,
both the army and the GAM gave reassurances about implementation of
the agreement.
"No
GAM anymore now. No separatist. I'm convinced that our bothers ex-GAM
will meet what being mandated by the MoU," Lieutenant Colonel
Ahmad Husein, spokesperson of the Aceh military command, told IOL.
"Supposing
they don’t meet the rule, then we will use our instinct as military
to prevent any bad situation. But I believe they won’t do so,"
he added.
According
to Husein, the military is ready to do whatever it takes to socialize
the MoU to the Aceh people.
The
now-legally defunct GAM echoed a similar commitment to the peace
process, saying its military wing and affiliated parties will abide by
the Helsinki deal.
"We
just follow the order. We will obey whatever the result done by our
leaders in Helsinki," Sofyan Dawood, GAM spokesman, told IOL.
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