The Government of Indonesia and the Free Acheh Movement (GAM) is to meet again for the second round of talks in Helsinki on February 21, according to the February 11 press release by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). In the first eye-to-eye meeting held on 27-29, the two parties managed to break the ice after the collapse of the 2003 Tokyo Meeting.

The upcoming meeting is generally considered as crucial and more sensitive, as it will certainly determine other future negotiations. Unlike the first talks, the second will have a more visible agenda, at least from the govt side. The Govt says it will compromise nothing but the “special autonomy”, and all discussions must be within the framework of this instrument. While Jakarta is seeking a “peaceful and comprehensive” solution to the conflict, solely based on special autonomy, the Free Acheh Movement will be avoiding touching sticky issues such as a demand for an independent Acheh. Instead of searching for a final solution, which is almost impossible in term of the nature of the conflict, GAM would only focus itself on a relatively workable short termed peace deal around truce or armistice.

Praised be to CMI for having managed to bring back the two belligerent sides into negotiating table. Glancing at the past negotiations facilitated by the Swiss-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC), the Crisis Management Initiative’s endeavours to bring peace to Acheh would be short-lived unless it would make some changes in its conducts to deal with one of the most brutal wars and the longest running conflicts in the world. In its release CMI states: “The second meeting will aim to explore whether it would be possible to find a comprehensive solution within the framework of a special autonomy for Aceh.”

The above statement is clearly an endorsement of the government agenda for the meeting, or a prerequisite for entering the negotiating table? As the word “autonomy” has become a forever mockery in Acheh, this statement has upset many Achehnese. The Central Information for Aceh Referendum (SIRA) has, in a number of releases, been critical of such franks by CMI, while other Achehnese organisations have remained mute and indifferent to what was happening in Helsinki. Having lost their beloved ones and properties in the Dec 26 earthquakes and tsunami, Achehnese have not yet recovered from the traumatic situation. They are not strong enough even to stage protest against the act of injustices perpetrated by Jakarta. Apathy, silence and secrecy are their only protests now.

Our hope is that CMI should be able to maintain its neutrality, and Jakarta would not use this tragic event to add more tragedies by forcing Achehnese to accept something unacceptable. For Achehnese will always resist any injustices inflicted upon them and will remain defiant even in defeat. Negotiation means a compromise – not a diktat. There is no negotiation without compromise. GAM has obviously indicated that it will suspend its prime goal for an independent Acheh, and has asked the government to agree on a cease-fire as to facilitate the international relief operations.

Indonesia has bluntly rejected GAM’s offer and said it would stick to the autonomy option. This uncompromising behaviour of the government has already shattered hopes and high expectations of the freedom-loving people of Acheh, whose only dream is to see the conflict resolved peacefully, democratically, in accordance with their genuine aspirations and with respect to international standards. Any other attempts to force Achehnese to accept thing they don not deserve will be met with failure. And the matter has become even more complicated when the supposed neutral facilitator endorsed that government’s infamous trickery – special autonomy for Acheh. If GAM, which has been fighting for almost 30 years, can temporarily abandon its costly dreams of independence, why can not Jakarta forget this controversial “special autonomy” if it really cares for and wishes a true peace in Acheh? Stavanger, 18 February, 2005 Abu Nizar Secretary General Email: permas_norway@yahoo.no PERMAS is an independent association set up in summer 2004 by Achehnese community in Scandinavia. The objective of the organisation is to unite Achehnese abroad, especially, in the Scandinavian countries, and to work together towards a peaceful, democratic solution to Acheh conflict.

Association of Achehnese Community in Scandinavia (PERMAS) P.O.Box: 1548, Kjelvene 4093 Stavanger, Norway Tel: + 47-95247970 Fax: + 47-41558513