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THE STATE OF ACHEH
Opening speech by PM Malik Mahmood, on behalf of Tengku Hasan di Tiro, to the Helsinki Peace Talks held under the auspices of the Crisis Management Initiative on 22 February 2005.: Your Excellency President Ahtisaari, respected members of the Indonesian government delegation, esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen; I have the honour and privilege to convey to Your Excellency and also to the Indonesian delegation the greetings and appreciation of our Head of State, His Highness Tengku Hasan di Tiro, on the occasion of these talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive and sustainable peace in post-tsunami Acheh that occur within the context of the long struggle of the Achehnese people against colonialism and for self-determination precisely since Holland declared war on the sovereign state of Acheh on 26 March 1873. Undeniably, Acheh has a long and proud history as a sovereign state recognised by world powers since the 16th century, and never accepted its incorporation into the Dutch East Indies. Our struggle against the Dutch, along side our other brothers in the vast Malay archipelago now called Indonesia (Kepulauan Melayu) fighting against colonial oppression, was for self-rule. Acheh has never accepted rule by outsiders. This historical context forms the basis of our struggle. The legitimacy of the Achehnese struggle for self-rule is self-evident. However, if there was ever any doubt in our hearts and minds about the necessity for our struggle, it has been proven time and again – even as we meet here to talk about peace – by the horrible human rights abuses inflicted against the Achehnese people by representatives of the Indonesian state; the TNI and Brimob. Such human rights abuses, which are well documented by many internationally respected organisations, have only strengthened the desire of the Achehnese people for self-rule. We, the Free Acheh Movement, are but an expression of that desire. Indonesia has now agreed to support international covenants on human rights. We would therefore ask that, in the spirit of this acceptance of the universal application of human rights, that the Indonesian government begin investigations into the history of human rights abuses in Acheh, and to punish their perpetrators. As you know, Mr President, the opportunity for these historic talks has come about in part because of the humanitarian crisis in Acheh, following the disastrous tsunami of 26 December. It is our people who have died, and who continue to suffer. To this end, we wish to remind our friends in the Indonesian delegation, that we fully and unreservedly support the international humanitarian relief effort underway in Acheh, and we hope that the international community will remain in Acheh until the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Acheh is complete. We welcome the international community in Acheh, and thank them deeply for their generous efforts in Acheh. There has been some discussion about the status of the conflict in Acheh, with the Indonesian government claiming that it is a domestic concern. We, of Acheh, reject that claim. Based on Acheh’s history as a sovereign state, the conflict is by definition international. Furthermore, the issues that are raised by the Acheh conflict are of humanitarian concern, and this is the concern of all humanity. Finally, the Indonesian government has implicitly recognised the international scope of this situation, by its presence here in Helsinki. We welcome that presence, and trust that this internationalisation can help facilitate a mutually acceptable settlement. Because we appreciate the Indonesian government would like to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Acheh, we wish to be able to negotiate fully and without hindrance. To that end, and as an act of good faith, we request that the Indonesian government immediately release the jailed members of our negotiating team, to allow them to join us at the earliest possible opportunity. We also recongise that there are some words or types of language about which the Indonesian government is sensitive. We are also sensitive about the use of some words, or terms to describe political outcomes. Recognising that these words or terms have constituted an impediment to discussion, and genuinely seeking a negotiated solution, we ask that the Government of Indonesia be sensitive to our concerns about terminology. We also commit to show such sensitivity to the concerns by the Indonesian government over the use of such terminology. Finally, we note that earlier today, the chief of staff of the Indonesian army, Ryamizard Ryacudu, has been on Indonesian television admitting that the TNI has launched a major attack east of Banda Acheh. We are saddened by this news, and believe that such actions are not in the spirit of these negotiations, and are designed to undermine these talks. We believe, however, and hope that with patience, understand and wisdom, we can achieve a resolution. Malik Mahmood Prime Minister in exile =========================================== THE STATE OF ACHEH Statement on the Helsinki Peace Talks, by ASNLF/GAM spokesman Bakhtiar Abdullah, at the close of talks, 4.40 pm, 23 February 2005 Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, welcome. I am Bakhtiar Abdullah, spokesman for the Free Acheh Movement. The Free Acheh Movement would like to thank President Martti Ahtisaari, the Crisis Management Initiative and the Finnish government for its support in hosting these talks. I would like to start by commenting on points raised by Mr Ahtisaari at conclusion of Round 2 of the peace talks. GAM believes there has been progress in Round Two of the talks, they are moving in right direction, and that there have been some constructive discussions in this round. Recognising that there has been some progress, GAM has agreed to return to a further round of talks in April, in which we intend to discuss more substantial issues. Hopefully this will allow us to move towards a political negotiated outcome concerning a comprehensive and sustainable peace in post-tsunami Acheh. In this, GAM is cautiously optimistic. GAM does acknowledge that during the talks there were some sticking points, such as use of term ‘special autonomy’. However, GAM has put forward an alternative terms, which is ‘self government’, and we hope to be able to move forward on this. Mr Ahtisaari has also raised an additional point for the agenda for the next round of talks, notably to consider including representatives of Achehnese civil society. I am pleased to say that GAM has already been exploring the inclusion of civil society groups, and we therefore support this inclusion in the agenda. GAM also supports Mr Ahtisaari’s expression of concern over continuing conflict in the field in Acheh. As you, ladies and gentlemen of the media, will know, the TNI has been continuing its military activities in the post-tsunami period, despite GAM declaring a unilateral ceasefire to facilitate the international humanitarian relief effort. Indeed, we have here a statement by the chief of staff of the army stating that even following the tsunami, the TNI would not change its military approach in Acheh. We call on the Indonesian government to exercise restraint over the actions of the TNI, in the spirit of cooperation, to allow these talks to progress unimpeded. I would also like to offer a clarification of some media reports. There have been some misquotations about GAM dropping its claim for independence. To be clear, GAM has not given up its claim for independence for Acheh. However, it has recognised that in a spirit of cooperation in the post-tsunami period, it should make concessions. It has therefore not brought to the negotiating table the issue of independence, and this is therefore not being considered during these talks. I would now like to introduce the members of the GAM negotiating team; our Prime Minister, Mr Malik Mahmood, our Foreign Minister, Dr Zaini Abdullah, Mr Nur Djuli, Mr Nurdin Abdul Rahman, Mr Muzakkir Abdul Hamid, Teuku Hadi, Dr Vacy Vlazna and Dr Damien Kingsbury. Questions from the media, Bakhtiar Abdullah |
