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CIAO DATE: 10/05
Aceh: A New Chance for Peace
August 15, 2005
Abstract
On 15 August the Indonesian Government and the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM) are to sign a peace agreement that offers the best hope yet of ending a conflict that has cost over 9,000 lives since 1976. But no one should underestimate the difficulties of bringing an end to a 30-year-old conflict. Deep reservoirs of fear and distrust remain. The demobilisation and disarmament phases will be critical, and they are scheduled to begin in a month. Release of GAM prisoners will happen even sooner. Information, communication, and planning are in very short supply. Among the most urgent tasks are:
- finding appropriate channels for the widest possible dissemination of information about the agreement in Indonesian and Acehnese, with an explanation of how it differs from the failed 2002 agreement;
- coordinating the different agencies working on amnesty, disarmament, reintegration, monitoring and funding;
- ensuring that government promises of land, jobs, or social security to various groups are quickly kept; and
- protecting vulnerable groups, including those who report violations of the agreement.
