Statement by the Government in Exile of Acheh

On the Second Round of the Helsinki Peace Talks

Ahead of the Second Round of the Helsinki Peace Talks, the Government-in-Exile of Acheh (ASNLF) has announced its two principal goals for the talks.

The Prime Minister-in-Exile of Acheh, Mr Malik Mahmood, said that the first principal goal is the facilitiation of and support for the international humanitarian aid effort in Acheh to assist victims of the recent tsunami.

 ’Our first concern is, and always has been, for the Achehnese people,’ Mr Malik said.

 In order to facilitiate the international humanitarian relief effort, Mr Malik said the ASNLF’s second principal goal for the Helsinki talks is to reach an agreement with the Government of Indonesia on a sustainable ceasefire that is the basis of a lasting peace.

 Mr Malik said: ’The ASNLF enters the second round of these historic talks in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill’.

 He said that in order to achieve a lasting peace, the ASNLF would consider a range of possible political resolutions to the Acheh conflict.

 But, Mr Malik said, the talks will begin with no agreement on, or acceptance of, any particular position.

 ’If we can have peace, we then expect to be able to work towards a negotiated political settlement,’ the Prime Minister said.

Stockholm, Sweden, 19 February 2005