Melly Febrida, Jakarta – Armed forces (TNI) chief Endriartono Sutarto has guaranteed that recent peace negotiations which are being organised between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will not influence the operation to restore security in Aceh.

Sutarto admitted however, that the operation to restore security is now being focused more on safeguarding humanitarian activities.

The TNI itself continued Sutarto, reading written answers to the People’s Representative Assembly Working Commission I headed by commission chairperson Theo L. Sambuanga at the parliament building in Jakarta on Monday February 28, are in a position to accept and carry out whatever policy decisions are taken by the government.

“And, up until now this has remained in force in the framework of resolving the GAM question which is the political decision to conduct an integrated operation and that is what the TNI is in the middle of doing at present through the operation to restore security. And, the process of the negotiations will not detract from the implementation of the operation to restore security in Aceh”, he said.

Responding to the issue of the negotiations between the government and GAM which took place in January and February, a member of Commission I from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle fraction meanwhile expressed their disappointment because the negotiations have been conducted under two flags, the Republic of Indonesia and GAM, and as a result internationally people are assuming that GAM represents a country.

“Why weren’t the negotiations held in Indonesia. And, with regard to the solution of special autonomy which was offered by the government, haven’t we already given special autonomy [to Aceh] though legislation, why is it being offered again. So there are two choices, surrender or be destroyed”, he asserted.

A member of Commission I from the National Mandate Party fraction, AM Fatwa meanwhile, declared his respect for the political steps being taken by the government which has never grown tired of dialogue and continues to maintain security in Aceh.

With regard to the impending replacement of the chief of the TNI meanwhile, Sutarto explained that the matter is one of presidential authority, because Sutarto himself only has the capacity to submit the names of chiefs of staff as candidates for the position. (umi)

[Translated by James Balowski.]