The Indonesian government and Aceh rebels on Sunday entered the crucial demilitarization stage in the process to end a bloody 26-year separatist war in the resource-rich province.
Under a peace pact signed on December 9 in Geneva, Jakarta and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) agreed to begin demilitarization two months after the signing of the agreement facilitated by the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Center (HDC).
During the coming five-month phase, GAM should start storing weapons at secret designated sites while the army relocates its forces and changes its role "from a strike force to a defensive force." The HDC has mediated in talks between the Indonesian government and GAM since 2000 but previous ceasefires have always broken down.
Visiting HDC head Martin Griffiths however said there was "enough confidence between the two parties to start the demilitarization." Griffiths said the two sides agreed at a meeting Saturday to start the demilitarization phase on time on Sunday and presented their "concrete, specific" proposals on how they are going to meet their obligations over the next five months.
"I am pleased to say we now have the commitment of both parties, a basis for discussion and a schedule. With that basis, we can begin to negotiate the details of what each side promises to do and when they will do it," he said.
The HDC, in a press release issued here Sunday, said details of the demilitarization phase will be fine-tuned in the coming days and weeks.
"Trust is the key, between both parties and HDC," Griffiths said. "GAM's got to trust that HDC will not reveal the placement locations. The Indonesian government must trust that HDC is carefully, accurately monitoring the placement," he said.
Top Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday marked the start of the demilitarization by flying to Lhokseumawe, the main town of North Aceh district where GAM has been most active, to address a dialogue with local leaders.
He is scheduled to address a similar dialogue in the provincial capital Banda Aceh on Monday. Griffiths is scheduled to fly to Lhokseumawe later Sunday to meet with Yudhoyono.
The demilitarization phase proved one of the most difficult issues during the Geneva peace negotiations. GAM leaders were fearful the process could leave them defenceless against troops and police who outnumber them seven-to-one in the province at the tip of Sumatra island.
Jakarta, in one of several key concessions, allowed a "two-key" arrangement under which the location of arms dumps will stay secret from the military. The HDC has the right to conduct "no notice" inspections of them to verify that GAM is complying with the agreement.
Although each side in the bloody 26-year separatist war has complained of numerous ceasefire violations since the pact was signed in December, the two months since the agreement has seen a dramatic decline in deadly violence.
The HDC statement said nine GAM deaths have been reported since December 9 compared with a reported average of 102 a month last year. Four police or soldiers had been killed compared with an average of 45 a month last year. And 24 civilians had died since December 9 againt an average 87 a month last year.
The Joint Security Committee charged with monitoring the peace process groups officials from the military, GAM and foreign monitors who represent the HDC and are led by a Thai general.