Susan Sim, Jakarta – As leaders of Aceh's armed rebel movement hovered on the brink of a peace agreement with Jakarta, officials here warned that if it backed out now, it would find itself isolated.
The central government is forging ahead with plans to grant local legislative and community chiefs extensive powers to run the province in return for abandoning the independence cause.
A law devolving full powers to Acehnese officials in all areas except foreign affairs, national defence and fiscal and monetary matters could be in place by the end of June, State Minister for Regional Autonomy, Prof Ryaas Rasyid, said yesterday. He told The Sunday Times that, proceeding on negotiations with rebel leaders in Stockholm and elected officials in Banda Aceh, Jakarta had obtained from the Acehnese parliament a draft Bill on how they would like to share power with Jakarta.
Extensive discussions to ensure the draft has the support of most sections of Acehnese society is likely to take place by late next month, after the government submits its Regional Autonomy Bill to Parliament on May 7, he added.
Separately, Human Rights Minister Hasballah Saad on Friday also gave May 7 as the deadline for a peace deal with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders, who had met three times up with Indonesian officials in Geneva recently.
"Everything has to be done gradually but, God willing, the agreement will be signed next week before May 7 in Geneva," he said. He did not give details other than saying that setting up a human-rights tribunal was a key issue.
President Abdurrahman Wahid, originally scheduled to visit Aceh today, is now expected to go to the western-most province on May 8, fuelling speculation that he will personally announce a ceasefire.
But even if the GAM deal falls through, Jakarta is still committed to granting Aceh wide-ranging autonomy beyond that being contemplated for the other provinces. Only Irian Jaya will get the same special status, Prof Ryaas said, adding:
"GAM is just one element among others in Aceh. If the other groups agree to special autonomy, then it will be left behind. The situation in Aceh has changed because people are more realistic now and know that the government will never agree to independence."
Giving meat to the idea of special status, Acehnese legislators, he revealed, are demanding not just the right to control the usual public services, but also a provincial police force, the courts, all revenues from provincial resources, and foreign trade relations, ceding control to Jakarta only functions like foreign diplomacy, national security, and currency and monetary policy.
Prof Ryaas' own regional autonomy bill, to be presented to Cabinet on Wednesday, reserves to the Centre exclusive control over five areas – foreign relations, national defence, the judiciary, religious practices, and financial policy, including setting revenue-sharing norms with the provinces.
To demonstrate its sincerity to the Acehnese in atoning for the decades of abuse and neglect and end the separatist drive, Jakarta is prepared to accede to most of their demands.
But Prof Ryaas warned that Jakarta was unlikely to give up full control of all revenues from natural resources, and while it understood their desire to cement their historical ties to Malaysia and the Middle East by establishing direct economic relations, it would want to retain some control here.
"Once we agree on a special autonomy draft, then it is up to the Aceh Parliament to persuade Acehnese that it is the best arrangement."