Jakarta – Indonesia's military chief said on Tuesday the problems in rebellious Aceh province should be resolved through dialogue but that separatists must drop their call for an independent state.
"The Aceh problem needs to be resolved. The best way out is through dialogue ... but Aceh must still be a part of the Republic of Indonesia. We'll take it if the dialogue can be conducted on that basis," said General Endriartono Sutarto, speaking to a gathering of editors.
Long running talks between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Switzerland have failed to stop the violence that has killed thousands in 25 years since a separatist revolt began. GAM insists on independence, but the Indonesian government has ruled that out, saying a special autonomy package granted to the province early this year should be the basis for talks.
The deadlock has raised the prospect of moving the talks from Switzerland to Aceh, whose capital is 1,700 km northwest of Jakarta, and to include other Acehnese social groups.
"We'll openly embrace [the idea] if GAM declares it's ready for dialogue and accepts the [autonomy] laws. If GAM asks 'how do we surrender our arms' or 'would we get amnesty' ... that is the kind of dialogue we want to see developing," Sutarto said.
He said the military was committed to upholding government policy on Aceh. "If this nation wants to keep Aceh ... please don't blame us when we act firm. [GAM] has no right to lift arms. They've no right to own weapons. They have no right to use them." Earlier in July, Jakarta branded GAM as "terrorists" after accusing the group of murdering members of the local parliament, abducting civilians and burning schools. GAM vehemently rejected the accusations and terrorist tag.
Aceh in mind
Sutarto said he would welcome moves toward a restoration of full military ties with the United States, cut over human rights violations in East Timor linked to Indonesian forces.
Momentum is building in the US administration and among some in Congress to change that policy, partly because of a desire to boost Indonesian cooperation in the US-led war on terror.
"We'll accept US military cooperation with open arms if that can make us more professional. But in combatting terrorism, we don't want to be choosy," he said.
"We can't ignore those kidnappings of civilians [by GAM] ... All terrorists whose victims are innocent people are those whom we will combat." US State Secretary Colin Powell is scheduled to visit Indonesia on Friday with the US-led war on terror at the top of his agenda. But Jakarta has said it wants Powell to also consider Indonesia's own security problems, like Aceh separatism.
Indonesia's government plans to reveal new policies on Aceh next week, including whether a civil or military emergency should be imposed and whether Jakarta should continue talks with GAM.
A military emergency, or martial law, would place the army commander in Aceh in charge. Civil emergency is one step down, but still gives wide security powers to local authorities.