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STATE OF
ACHEH
STATEMENT BY THE FREE ACHEH MOVEMENT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND GAM-ACHEH CIVIL SOCIETY MEETING The Free Acheh Movement (GAM) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its second meeting with representatives of Acheh civil society groups. This historic second meeting, at Lidingö, Sweden on 9 and 10 July 2005, was undertaken with the generous assistance of the Olof Palme International Center. GAM welcomed the opportunity to exchange views with Acheh civil society groups on the Helsinki peace process and to discuss with them the prospects for peace in Acheh. As with GAM’s previous meeting with Acheh civil society groups, GAM was encouraged by the support expressed by Acheh civil society representatives for the Helsinki peace process. Both GAM and Acheh civil society groups believe that the only way to a comprehensive and sustainable peace in Acheh is through a negotiated agreement that gives to the people of Acheh the right and capacity to determine their own affairs within the context of the Republic of Indonesia. While GAM and Acheh civil society groups reaffirmed their commitment to achieving peace through dialogue, both expressed concern about continuing military activities in Acheh by the Indonesian military, the TNI, and opposition to the peace process expressed by some opportunistic politicians in Jakarta. At the meeting with Acheh civil society groups, GAM again expressed its commitment to achieving a negotiated peace which would provide for a genuine democratic outcome in Aceh, including the establishment of local political parties under a system of self-government.
Signed,
Bakhtiar Abdullah, |
