After a fourth round of talks and will entering a fifth round in July and hopefully a final round , if God will, both parties, GAM and the government concluded thatnegotiations were progressing, with the government claiming some 90 percent of the issues put on the table had been resolved. But other voice and pessimistic remark emerged. Some demanded that ongoing process of negotiation should be halted while the other not sure that the agreement will be achieved. “ By observing Jakarta’s rigid position. We may conclude that the fifth round of talk , if any, will end up in a failure as none of the two conflicting camps are likely willing to restrain themselves and pursue a peaceful solution as earlier regulated by the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR)” Razak said. (The Jakarta Post June 10,2005)
Therefore, now it is a good time for both sides to show their pledge and commitment to fulfill Aceh people hope of peace and prosperous. The issue of Aceh should not be reduced to that of a mere rebellion. Most of Aceh's population of 3.6 million people have been waiting for peace for a long time. The Acehnese are tired of the three decades of armed conflict that has claimed more than 12,000 lives. RI government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) should seriously struggle for final agreement.
After the issue of independence and special autonomy are removed and the new term ,such as in CMI press release called, “ the self government of the province of Aceh within the Republic of Indonesia” maybe will be used, the most important points of this terms is which units can Aceh province make decisions that the central government cannot overrule. In case of sharia implementation for instance , referring to my opinion “weighing the benefits of sharia as a solution to Aceh’s problem” ( The Jakarta Post May20,2005) there should be an assurance that sharia regulation set out in qanun(bylaw) can be implemented without any fear that they will be annulled by the central government or the Supreme Court in Jakarta.
Since the conflict in Aceh is politics in nature ,armed forces of both TNI / POLRI and GAM should respect the process and the final result of agreement .
After the signing of the peace agreement with the rebel Free Aceh Movement ( GAM) in 2002, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, still assumed Cordinating Minister for Political and Security Affair at the time, at the office of Indonesia’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, said "Take the guns out of the politics and let us together build a peaceful, democratic and peaceful Aceh within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia,". Albeit this agreement eventually failed to fully be implemented, party because Indonesia (under Megawati) unilaterally canceled its peace agreement with GAM in 2003, this directive sentence is still relevant today
when Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has became president of the Republic of Indonesia.
Considering the remaining problem that not yet be solved only 10 percent both sides should hardly try to move so they can meet in same point. Whatever the shape of the final agreement and whatever its name viewed from political theory, it should be treated as , borrowing the words of Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, chief of negotiator team of Indonesian government in 2002, significant victory for both sides and for all that were interested in peace. House of representative as law making body should gives support as the consequences of this agreement there should such revisions on some laws. Conversely GAM should restrain from making public disinformation campaign to promote a public perception that the final result of the implementation of agreement would be independence for Aceh such as occurred in previous agreement. Maybe Aceh will get such independence but it is limited on such units which had been agreed. .
While awaiting for new governor , regent or mayor who elected directly by Aceh people in democratic manner , it maybe will consume long time for preparations , the existing officials should be accepted . So there is no double government officials . It means that GAM should not built or expand political structure in the villages which competed with the provincial government for administrative control and GAM should halted what is called “collecting Nanggroe tax”.
Concerning with local political party , I am personally in favor with this idea at least for Aceh. It will show that Aceh, with special status, is really different from other provinces in Indonesia. I am like other observers also convicting that it is impossible to resolve the insurgency in Nanggroe Aceh Darusalam (NAD) by force alone.
Before agreement signed , considering it is still enough time, in my mind, because Aceh is a big problem for Indonesia , it is better if crucial matter that not yet be solved disclosed publicly so everyone academicians , politicians or the else can taking participation and can offer their suggestions and opinions.
Finally both sides should realize the bad consequences if peace negotiations end up in failure.