Courage for peace

INDONESIA is making history. The government of President Yudhoyono has signed a historic peace deal with the Aceh separatists to end one of the world’s longest running conflicts. The terms of peace include limited self-governance in Aceh, general amnesty for GAM separatists, formation of political parties and running for office by ex guerillas, and granting the province 70 per cent revenue from its natural resources.

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Published: Thu 18 Aug 2005, 9:53 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 6:34 PM

Two hundred foreign observers from the EU and Asean nations are going to be present in Aceh to ensure the two sides stick to their side of the bargain.

Indonesia’s current leadership deserves kudos for demonstrating extraordinary courage and political farsightedness in striking peace with the Aceh rebels. In fact, at a time when most modern nation states refuse to budge from their avowed position in dealing with separatist issues and territorial disputes, Indonesia has gone out of its way to resolve a long-festering separatist problem by taking a flexible and courageous stance on autonomy.

There are lessons in this for other nations and states that have a tendency to brush such issues under the carpet of national interest. The Aceh accord should make the world community —especially big powers —push for resolution of all such issues and disputes which have been hanging fire for decades —some of them even after the UN resolutions seeking a just and peaceful dispute settlement.


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