Peace talks to benefit Aceh
KOTA TINGGI: Malaysia has expressed the hope that the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will use their proposed peace negotiations to reach a consensus on the redevelopment of tsunami-ravaged Aceh.
It has also ruled out the need for third party participation in the peace talks.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said Malaysia, as Indonesia’s closest neighbour, wanted to see the oil and natural gas-rich Aceh region redeveloped without the bothersome instability caused by the conflict between the Indonesian government and GAM.
“We are confident that the Indonesian government and the Aceh separatists are capable of engaging in talks and reaching the best solution without the involvement of any other country as an intermediary,” he told reporters after handing over sacrificial cows in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha in Kampung Gembut, Tanjung Sedili, here.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda had said recently that the republic would hold talks with GAM this month in what is seen as the first official meeting between the two sides since the breach in the truce between them in 2003.
He had said that the negotiations were aimed at strengthening the existing unofficial truce between the two sides since Dec 26 when the tsunami struck and claimed more than 160,000 lives in Aceh, which has a population of 4.1 million.
Syed Hamid said the proposed peace talks would bring benefits not only to the people of Aceh but also Indonesia, and would contribute to stability in the region as well.
He said Malaysia would continue to provide humanitarian aid and technical expertise for the redevelopment of Aceh, which was the worst affected of the areas hit by the tsunami.
He said Malaysia, as chairman of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), would persuade member nations of the two groupings to assist Indonesia. – Bernama
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