Aceh peace must hold, demands SBY

Tuesday, 24 February 2009

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has warned against disrupting the peace in Aceh, following years of conflict and the devastating tsunami.

The President also said that with the post-tsunami reconstruction agency leaving Aceh soon, rebuilding work in the country’s westernmost province should continue to reintegrate the community.

Echoing Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf’s remarks, Yudhoyono asked all parties in Aceh to leave the “old point of view” and begin a “new chapter on life” by supporting the reintegration process.

“I hope no one will infuriate the Aceh people for opting for peace over conflict — the same thing we have chosen and want. So let’s secure and maintain peace in Aceh,” Yudhoyono said Monday in Banda Aceh while inaugurating 13 infrastructure projects.

“There should be no more such terms as the Military Operations Area [DOM] or the Free Aceh Movement [GAM]. Dismiss selfish thoughts and care only about making the peace process a success.”

Yudhoyono's statements came on the heel of rising tensions in Aceh ahead of the upcoming legislative elections.

Over the past few months, acts of violence, including murder, intimidation, shootings and terror threats targeting politicians have begun to mar the long-standing peace.

Indonesian Military Chief Gen. Djoko Santoso said in Jakarta the violence could further escalate as the April 9 election day drew nearer.

Yudhoyono is on a two-day visit to Aceh to inaugurate reconstruction projects by the Aceh-Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (BRR), worth a total of Rp 715.3 billion (US$59.6 million).

The projects include the reconstructions of Keuliling Dam in Aceh Besar, valued at Rp 270.3 billion; Aceh Polytechnic in Banda Aceh (Rp 160 billion); Ulee Lheue Crossing Port (Rp 74.2 billion); Aceh Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh (Rp 67.9 billion); and the “Aceh Thanks the World” Park (Rp 2.4 billion).

The President also handed over Mandiri National Community Empowerment Program (PNPM Mandiri) funds worth Rp 222.9 billion in total for 30 regencies and municipalities in Aceh, as well as 3,000 basic commodities packages for underprivileged local residents.

He also witnessed the symbolic disbursement of loans for micro and small businesses, worth a total of Rp 300.7 billion, by three state-owned lenders: PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) and PT Bank Mandiri.

Yudhoyono is also scheduled to meet with local community and religious figures.

Before departing for Aceh early Monday morning, Yudhoyono met with visiting former Finnish president and UN peace mediator Martti Ahtisaari at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta, during which he asked the latter to continue helping observe the fragile peace process in Aceh.

Ahtisaari, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in October last year for peace negotiations he mediated, is on a four-day visit to Indonesia, during which he is scheduled to visit Aceh to see the progress of the peace process in the province.

Ahtisaari mediated the Aceh peace talks in Helsinki, which led to the historic end of three decades of conflict between the Indonesian government and GAM.

On Sunday, the renowned peacemaker met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who was also actively involved in the Aceh peace negotiations. (The Jakarta Post)