[Nasional-e] PRESS RELEASE Geneve, 09-12-2002

[Ambon]

ACHEH/SUMATRA
NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT
P.O.BOX 130, S-145 01 NORSBORG, SWEDEN
TEL/FAX: +46 8 531 91275

PRESS RELEASE Geneve, 09-12-2002


The agreement of Cessation of Hostilities signed today between the Free
Acheh Movement (GAM) and the Goverment of Indonesia (GoI) represents a
correction of the failure of the previous accord on ending the hostilities
and violence.

We hope that with the signing of this new accord involving the monitoring by
at some 12 foreign nations, the people of Acheh would be able to live in
peace free from all kinds of fear and terror and to rebuild themselves
without hindrance and in dignity as is the right of every civilized people.

Until this very moment of the accord, acts of violence and brutalities
continue to occure in Acheh. As an example, the case of the kidnap and
murder of humanitarian activist Musliadi (26), President of KAGEMPAR a few
days ago by the Indonesian security forces. The Indonesian military strength
was reinforced yesterday with another 30 000 soldiers who landed in Lhok
Seumawe, Geurugok and Banda Acheh. New and massive militry operations
conitunued to be launched, like the one at Sawang, North Acheh yesterday
whereby 36 villagers were arrested, brutalized and whose whereabout and
fate are still unknown. The ridiculous siege on Cot Trieng swamp by 3500
heavily armed troops who have been bombarding the 8 km long and 700 m is
still in place, presumably to force the non-existing GAM members there to
surrender.

Arrogant statements are still being made by Indonesian generals until
yesterday, such as blurted out by the Chief of the Indonesian Chief of staff
of the Army, General Riyacudu, who told TNI soldiers in Lhok Seumawe, North
Acheh, that “negotiations are for the Government; for us TNI there is no
negotiation with those called separatist rebels. TNI will continue to wipe
out GAM”. In fact, GAM have been issued with several threats of annihilation
by Indonesian military as well as civilian leaders. President Megawati
herself issued an ultimatum that if GAM did not accept the NAD autonomy
package before Ramadhan, “we will take firm action”. The deadline was moved
to after the end of Ramadhan and then to today. Needless to say that this
accord is not about bowing these threats.

What we are signing today is an accord to end hostilities and all acts of
violence, as the result of a series of dialogues mediated by the Henry
Dunant Centre (HDC).. It is certainly not about GAM accepting NAD or
abandoning its sacred struggle for national independence that the people of
Acheh have started since 1873.

In his speech at the signing ceremony, the ASNLF’s chief negotiator, Dr.
Zaini Abdullah said among other things that it is the aspiration of the
Achehnese people to live in peace and to take their rightful place among the
civilized community of the world. “It is our duty to assure that their
legitimate and basic rights are protected in accordance with the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights”. He said that the achievement made today is the
direct result of the struggle and sacrifices of our people. “It is our
pledge and commitment to accept whatever democratic decision they take. We
hope that this peace process will lead to the opportunity for them to
express their wish in a peaceful and safe manner”.

Dr. Zaini Abdullah concluded his speech with expressaiasng in the name of
“the gallant and loyal people of Acheh, our profound gratitude to all
friends in the NGOs, mass media, humanitarian workers and human rights
activists who have been and risking their lives in the effort to unveil the
human tragedy that has taken place for so long and still on-going today in
Acheh. Their noble sacrifice will never be forgotten”.

The signing ceremony that took place at the Henry Dunant Centre in Geneva
was attended by 9 foreign ambassadors, including from France, the US,
Canada, Japan, Sweden, Norwegia, and the official representative of
Switzerland.

The Achehnese delegation to the peace negotitions this time included 8
leraders of the Civil Society in Acheh who have voiced their unanimous
support for the position taken by the ASNLF in the agreement.

The realization of peace in Acheh will give the Achehnese the opportunity to
rebuild their future without fear and to contribute to the regional
economic, political and security stability especially in South East Asia,
and indeed in the world. It is a well-known fact that Acheh is very well
endowed with rich natural resources and posseses an industrious people. It
is thus our challenge to rise to the occasion in order to take our rightful
place among the civilized community of the world./.

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ACHEH/SUMATRA
NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT
P.O.BOX 130, S-145 01 NORSBORG, SWEDEN
TEL/FAX: +46 8 531 91275

PRESS RELEASE Geneve, 09-12-2002


Perjanjian penghentian permusuhan dan tindak kekerasan antara RI-GAM yang
ditanda tangani hari ini, merupakan koreksi dari kegagalan atas cessation of
violence yang sebelumnya pernah disepakati.

Kita berharap dengan adanya perjanjian baru yang akan melibatkan pengawasan
antarabangsa yang tidak kurang dari 12 negara, bangsa Acheh akan dapat hidup
dalam suasana damai dan tenteram, terlepas dari segala bentuk terror dan
dapat membangun dirinya tanpa rasa takut sebagaimana layaknya kehidupan
suatu bangsa beradab.

Sampai-sapai saat terakhir sebelum perjanjian ditandatangani,
tindakan-tindakan kekerasan terus berlangsung di Acheh. Sebagai contoh,
dalam kasus penculikan dan pembunuhan ke atas aktivis kemanusiaan Musliadi
(26 th), Ketua KAGEMPAR pada, …2002 oleh pihak TNI. Kekuatan militer terus
ditambah dengan kedatangan 2900 anggota TNI di Lhok Seumawe pada 8.12. yl.
Operasi militer besar-besaran terus berlangsung, seperti di Sawang, Acheh
Utara di mana 36 warga kampung telah ditangkap, dianiaya dan tidak diketahui
nasib mereka hingga sekarang. Di Cot Trieng, pihak militer Indonesia masih
mengadadakan pengepungan ketat dan pemboman luarbiasa atas kawasan rawa-rawa
kosong sejak 23 Oktober yang lalu, karena menyangka pihak GAM masih
bersembunyi di sana.

Pernyataan-pernyataan keras yang sombong masih diucapkan hingga kemarin oleh
petinggi militer Indonesia, seperti Riyacudu, yang berkata bahwa perundingan
dibuat oleh Pemerintah Indonesia, sedangkan TNI “tidak kenal runding dengan
yang bernama separatis. TNI akan terus menghapuskan GAM”. GAM bahkan telah
beberapa kali diancam demikian. Ultimatum telah dikeluarkan bahkan oleh
Presiden Megawati sendiri yang akan “mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap GAM
sekiranyan tidak menerima NAD sebelum Ramadhan. Jadual ultimatum itu
kemudian telah digeser ke selepas Hari Raya.

Apa yang ditandatangani hari ini adalah suatu perjanjian penghentian
permusuhan dan tindakan kekerasan, sebagai hasil serangkai dialog yang telah
difasilitasikan oleh HDC tanpa menghiraukan celoteh pihak militer. Tiada
timbul soal GAM menerima NAD atau meninggalkan perjuangan sucinya untuk
mencapai kemerdekaan bangsa Acheh yang telah dimulai sejak 1873.

Dalam kata-kata sambutannya, wakil Pemerintah Acheh, Dr. Zaini Abdullah,
ketua perunding ASNLF, berkata antara lain bahwa adalah merupakan aspirasi
bangsa Acheh untuk hidup dalam suasana damai dan mengambil tempatnya yang
sah diantara masyarkat internasional yang beradab. ”Adalah tugas kami untuk
menjamin bahwa hak-hak dasar bangsa Acheh dilindungi sesuai dengan
Pernyaataan Semesta Hak-Hak Asasi Manusia (Universal Declaration of Human
Rights”), katanya.

Seterusnya dikatakannya bahwa perjanjian yang dicapai hari ini adalah hasil
langsung daripada perjuangan dan pengorbanan bangsa Acheh. “Adalah merupakan
janji dan komitmen kami untuk menerima apa saja keputusan yang dibuat bangsa
Acheh secara demokrasi”, tegasnya. “Kami berharap proses damai ini akan
membuka peluang kepada bangsa Acheh untuk menyatakan kehendak mereka secara
damai dan selamat”

Upacara yang berlangsung di Markas Henri Dunant Centre di Jenewa itu
dihadiri oleh Duta-Duta sembilan negara asing, termasuk Perancis, Amerika
Serikat, Kanada, Jepang, Swedia, Norwegia dan juga wakil resmi Pemerintah
Swiss.

Delegasi Acheh ke perundingan tersebut disertai juga oleh 8 orang anggota
masayakat sipil Acheh yang dengan suara bulat telah menyatakan dukungan
penuh mereka pada posisi yang diambil ASNLF dalam perundingan tersebut. Dr.
Zaini tidak lupa mengucapkan kesyukuran atas nama bangsa Acheh kepada
sahabat-sahabat dari LSM-LSM, mass media, para pekerja kemanusiaan dan
aktivis hak asasi manusia yang bernai mempertaruhkan nyawa mereka demi
membuka tabir keganasan yang telah berlangsung sejak begitu lama di Acheh.

Dr. Zaini menutup ucapannya dengan mengatakan bahwa realisasi perdamaian di
Acheh akan memberikan peluang kepada bangsa Acheh untuk membangun kembali
masa depan mereka tanpa rasa takut dan menyumbang kepada kestabilan ekonomi,
politik dan keamanan serantau, khususnya di Asia Tenggara, bahkan di dunia.
“Adalah diketahui umum bahwa Acheh mempunyai kekayaan alam yang banyak dan
rakyat yang rajin. Adalah merupakan tantangan bagi kami bangsa Acheh untuk
menyambut kesempatan yang mendatang untuk kembali mengambil tempat kami yang
sah diantara anggota masyarakat antarabangsa yang beradab”.