Aceh make or break talks re-open

Free Aceh Movement rebels

GENEVA, Switzerland - The Indonesian government has resumed peace talks with separatist rebels aimed at halting a new explosion of violence in Aceh.

The talks are taking place at an undisclosed location in Switzerland, but both sides have indicated that there is little hope of progress in ending a decades-long conflict that has killed thousands.

The meeting comes one week before a six-month ceasefire ends. It was the first since rebels called off talks in November amid an upsurge in violence.

The ceasefire has failed to suppress the conflict between the security forces and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and some ministers and army commanders have hinted at the need for a military crackdown on the rebel movement.

The two delegations to the talks, held with the backing of the Geneva-based Henri Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, were headed by Indonesian foreign affairs ministry director-general Hasan Wirayudha and Abdullah Zanni, a minister of the self-styled Aceh government-in-exile.

Strict security surrounded the meeting, the fourth between the two sides in Switzerland over the past two years.

Indonesian Defense Minister Mahfud M.D., quoted in local media, expressed pessimism the talks would achieve anything because GAM rebels would only settle for independence.

Separatist spokesman Amni Marzuki, told Reuters that Aceh, a resource-rich province at the tip of Sumatra island, had never been legally part of Indonesia. "We are pessimistic about the dialogue with GAM because they have set a fixed price -- they only want freedom from Indonesia," the Jakarta Post newspaper quoted Mahfud as saying.

Officials have said the government was unlikely to extend the ceasefire if the Geneva talks failed, raising the specter of bloody military action more in line with the authoritarian policies in Aceh of former President Suharto.

The ceasefire, which took effect June 2, has done little to stem violence in the blighted province, with hundreds of people killed in recent months in clashes and attacks.

"If what we have in place now is ineffective in stopping the violence, we should raise the issue higher...inviting international mediation" he said. Indonesia has firmly ruled out independence for Aceh, offering greater autonomy instead.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Tribunal convicts 24 soldiers, civilian in Aceh massacre

Indonesia Online
Aceh.org

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.