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Ex-rebels in Indonesia's Aceh to lodge complaint over autonomy law
Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Aug 3, 2006 Former separatist rebels in Indonesia's Aceh are ready to submit to foreign peace monitors their grievances over a new law giving the province greater self-rule, their spokesman said Thursday. The former members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) are unhappy with several articles in the law passed last month which they say are "not in line" with a peace pact signed with Jakarta, spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah told AFP. The historic pact was signed in Helsinki in August 2005, ending a 29-year conflict between the separatists and the central government which had claimed the lives of some 15,000 people, mostly civilians. Abdullah said that in particular GAM wanted the government to clarify an article on its role in Aceh, which he argued could be interpreted to allow it to interfere in Aceh's regional affairs. "In fact, the memorandum of understanding (MOU, or peace pact) clearly outlined the separation of authority between the central government and the Acehnese government," he said. He said the law also failed to include a figure for military troops that can be stationed in Aceh by Jakarta, a contradiction to the 14,700 soldiers stipulated in the peace pact. Abdullah said the former fighters would take their grievances to the European-led Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), which is tasked with overseeing the peace pact and mediating any disputes. "We will give it to them as soon as possible. Hopefully we will give it to them today (Thursday) because the drafting of it has been completed," he said. The head of the AMM, Pieter Feith, said last month that the law was "broadly in line with the MOU" but there were some parts the monitors wanted to see improved through amendments. AMM spokesman Juri Laas told AFP nothing had yet been submitted. He said that a process of mediation was ongoing with both parties, with two meetings already specifically focusing on the new law. "This will of course continue. We will continue to have consultations with the parties and we'll see where we get from there ... We're trying to get them to talk to each other, find solutions," he said. So far, he added, "it has been done in a positive spirit and a good atmosphere". Former rebels have already said that returning to arms is not an option they would consider. The peace pact was was spurred on by the devastating 2004 tsunami which left some 168,000 Acehnese dead. GAM agreed to drop its demand for independence in return for, among other concessions, the right to form local political parties which are banned elsewhere in Indonesia. Local elections are expected to be held in Aceh in November and Indonesia has asked the AMM to extend its mandate, which is currently due to expire in September, until then. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters When the Earth Quakes A world of storm and tempest
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