Banda Aceh – Sofyan Dawod, military spokesman of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), said he believed that the peace process in Aceh would run smoothly because both the Indonesian government and GAM had come to trust one another.

"I believe the peace process will run smoothly and peace in Aceh will become a reality because the parties involved in the deal are bound to mutual trust and confidence, in addition to international support and encouragement," Sofyan told newsmen here on Wednesday. Sofyan, GAM commander for the Pase region, for the first time attended a tripartite meeting between Indonesian government, GAM and Aceh Monitoring Mission delegations.

Asked if there were any problem in implementing the points carried in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the government and GAM had signed on August 15 in Helsinki, he said he did not notice any, apparently as the peace process is still underway.

"Both sides have made a commitment to implementing the MoU to the best they can," he added. When asked whether there was still tension in the field, he said, "We must trust the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) as well as GAM members that they would not jeopardize the peace deal."

Irwandi Yusuf, head of the GAM delegation in the meeting, said that Sofyan's presence did not mean he would be a permanent member of the GAM delegation, his attendance was for cordial purposes. According to him, Sofyan's presence is an indication to the the Indonesian people, the Acehnese in particular, that GAM was truly committed to the peace deal. "His presence had also removed all the doubts of both sides, that GAM high ranking officials are willing to come out of the jungle or hills, which is proved by the military spokesman attending the meeting," Irwandi said. Maj Gen Bambang Darmono who led the Indonesian delegation said that he was happy with Sofyan's presence in the meeting and none looked tense.

"I hope Sofyan Dawod's presence at the meeting would solve all the problems in the field," said Bambang, former commander of the TNI's operational command when Aceh was in martial law status.