 |
Indonesian Govt, GAM Reach Interim Agreement
Representatives of the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) have reached a provision of understanding on the solution of the Aceh problem by allowing the separatist group to shift its struggle from armed format to political one, a senior official said in Jarkarta on Wednesday.
"Tuesday evening, at about 20:00 in Geneva, representatives of the Indonesian government and GAM reached a provision of understanding. Of course, the agreement still needs approval from the government," Defense Minister Machfud MD told the press at his office here.
According the new agreement, GAM will stage its struggle through political and democratic way, respect human rights and law as well as not to use weapons, said the minister.
"The government is pleased with the agreement as it could avoid armed movement in Aceh," said Machfud.
However, he noted, despite GAM could launch political and constitutional movement, Aceh will still be part of an unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.
Under the agreement, he said, both sides will carry out moratorium on violence (or cease violence) from January 15 when the past cease-fire agreement expires.
"GAM will be responsible for the stopping of armed clashes and the government will be responsible for keeping security (in Aceh), " he added.
Meanwhile, the minister reiterated that the government will continue dialogs with all groups in Aceh to seek a lasting settlement to the Aceh issue.
The new round of talks which started on Tuesday is scheduled for three days.
GAM, a major separatist group in Aceh, has been fighting for a free Islamic state since the mid 1970s. Thousands of people have been killed in clashes between the government troops and the Acehnese rebels.
In This Section
|