The peace process in Indonesia's Aceh province is right on schedule, according to a joint European Union-ASEAN monitoring mission. The Aceh Monitoring Mission today began supervising the disarming of Free Aceh or GAM separatist rebels, after thirty years of conflict.

Alexander Bebordelius is a spokesman for the Aceh Monitoring Mission, in Banda Aceh. He spoke to Sen Lam.

Bebordelius: We have deployed people already since 15th of August in order to prepare for the mission itself. We had around 80 monitors on the ground and they're prepared for our full strength now, which is around 250. We have headquarters in Banda Aceh and we have 11 district officers, which are spread all over the province of Aceh. The mission is to monitor the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, which covers a lot of very detailed fields, also activities by in particular implementation of the integration of former GAM fighters into society and other topics like that. Our people on the ground during the interim for instance to contact with local officials, with civil societies, with army and police officials. So they've already created a network of contacts.

Lam: So are you happy with the way the mission is progressing today with the disarming of the GAM rebels?

Bebordelius: This is a very visible sign from GAM that they are complying and they're cooperative towards the implementation of the MOU, because they have shown that they are ready to give their weapons.

Lam: You mentioned the reintegration of GAM rebels into Acehnese society, which of course is crucial to the entire peace process. What is being done to help former separatists resettle into the wider Acehnese community?

Bebordelius: What we have in the MOU is the fact that former GAM fighters will have land, will have some help from the government, so far we have a lot of declarations, that direction from government officials and we see good signs in that direction. But it is of use that the situation. We have had about 30 years of war here, and so now the most important thing is to promote reconciliation towards former enemies and to make sure that former GAM fighters can reintegrate into society, and have the possibility to be free citizens.

Lam: We had reports that GAM rebels are also seen drinking coffee in the coffee stalls, that that itself is a sign of Acehnese confidence in the peace agreement. Is that your reading as well, is there much evidence of former GAM rebels emerging from their jungle hideouts and mingling with the local community?

Bebordelius: Yes exactly, we have lots of reports about that, as I told you we have people around the province and 11 district officers. The officers, they move a lot, they have contacts with local population and they did say, our reports we have we could have reports about special reconciliation ceremonies held in some villages to greet people that came back from prison. And so we see that as a positive sign.

Lam: There were also fears that pro-integration militias previously armed by the TNI, the Indonesian military might disrupt the process. Is this of real concern to you?

Bebordelius: In the Memorandum of Understanding the government of Indonesia undertakes every move to disarm illegal groups. If some groups have the intention to disrupt the peace process it is obvious that it will be seen by government of Indonesia of illegal groups and we are confident that the government of Indonesia will take appropriate measures to prevent them from having negative influence on the peace process. The population is largely tired of the war, the population experienced a terrible tsunami, the people here want to have peace and that's their wish that they wish the most.