Rilis, Jakarta – Twenty five activist organisations have issued a statement supporting peace negotiations between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The statement which was contained in letter addressed to the president of the Republic of Indonesia and the GAM leadership in exile was dated June 24.

The signatories of the letter stated that they totally support the negotiations which have already entered their fourth round. They said they believe that the negotiations which have taken place so far have produced positive developments for the peace process in Aceh.

“The interim dialogue which is currently taking place, has increased the optimism of the Acehnese and Indonesian people, that peace will be created in Aceh which has already be devastated as a result of the [armed] conflict and the tsunami disaster”, they wrote in the letter which was also received by Aceh Kita on Thursday June 30.

They expressed deep regret however over position being taken in a number of circles such as the members of the People’s Representative Assembly (DPR) which has asked the government to end the current negotiations with GAM. According to the signatories, the anti-negotiation position being taken by assembly members represents a negation of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Decree Number No X/MPRRI/2001 and MPR Decree Number VI/MPR/2002 on resolving the Aceh question peacefully and with dignity.

“The Acehnese people who have hope in and are full of anxiety over the outcome of the negotiations are extremely disappointed with the anti-peace position being taken by them, [by people] who ipso facto do not originate from Aceh and do not understand the Aceh question”, they continued while expressing support for the moves by the two sides to invite observers from the European Union and ASEAN to monitor the results of a future peace agreement between the two sides.

In their letter they asked the Indonesian government and GAM, for the sake of the peace process, to continue the negotiations until a break through is reached; that the government resolve the Aceh conflict in accordance with MPR Decree Number X/MPR/2001 MPR Decree Number VI/MPR/2002; and that both sides immediately implement a ceasefire.

The 25 activists who sent the letter to the president and GAM leadership in exile came from a number of groups including the Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (Elsam), the Biak People’s Traditional Council, the North Sumatra chapter of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the Flores Justice and Human Rights Monitoring Institute, the East Java Public Legal Aid Foundation, the Indonesian Pusaka Institute, the Dompet Dhuafa Friends of Migrant Workers, Kinasih Women’s Solidarity, the Jakarta chapter of the Association of Indonesian Women for Justice (LBH APIK), the Makassar Legal Aid Foundation, BAKUMSU, the Makassar Independent Justice Monitoring Institute, KSPPM (a non-government organisation), the Institute for Press and Development Studies (LSPP), the Institute for Ecosoc Right, the Jakarta Labour Service and the Association of Anti-Military Activists (HANTAM). [dzie]