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Excellencies,
Let me begin by expressing our appreciation to the Government of Japan, our host country and to the Ambassador of the USA, the Ambassador of Greece representing the Presidency of the EU as well as the representative of the World Bank for taking the initiative to facilitate the convening of this meeting of the "Joint Council". As we all know, originally we plan to have the JC meeting on 25 April 2003 but for reasons we all know, the meeting could not take place because of the intransigence attitude on the part of GAM. The GOI has requested the convening of the Joint Council in the light of the serious problems within the JSC caused by a number of the GAM's activities that are in material breach of the COHA. Since the beginning of the implementation period of the COHA, the GAM has continued to: a. Enunciate to the people of Aceh that they will obtain their independence from the Republic of Indonesia after the period of the Agreement;b. Forcefully recruit the young, especially from villages, to increase the ranks of its fighters; c. Appoint "officers" of their fighting force; d. Smuggle weapons to arm themselves; e. Build and expand their "governmental structure" into villages, thereby building a rival administrative structure to that of the legitimate government of the Province of NAD. All these are political and criminal activities of GAM that are in contravention to the letter and spirit of the 10 May 2002 and the 9 December 2002 Agreements. The HDC has repeatedly assured the Government of Indonesia that these Agreements constitute the principal framework to resolve the Aceh question peacefully, within the context of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. GAM has also continued to extort what they called the "Nangroe tax". They justify this by stating that this would be revenue of the rival "governmental structure" which they have been building. Extortion of the Aceh people is completely against the law of the Republic of Indonesia. Two months into the implementation of the demilitarization of the COHA, there has been no indication of the system, plan and implementation of the placement of GAM's weapons, which is to be overseen by HDC. You are aware that on this very issue, the Government of Indonesia has made a major concession in not having to observe directly the placement of GAM's weapons. There are less than two months left until the end of COHA period, and it is difficult for us to envision that GAM is going to comply fully with this commitment. The JSC, that has been charged with the implementation of the COHA has been functioning less and less effectively. Our understanding is that it is bordering on paralysis of the JSC caused by continuously negative statements by GAM personalities. We nonetheless continue to be committed to the COHA as we believe it provides a road map for the peaceful solution of the Aceh question. As you very well know, the Government of Indonesia has tried its utmost to accommodate the demands of GAM, starting from the period of negotiation, as long as they adhere to their first commitment, stated in the Joint Statement signed on 10 May 2002, to accept the NAD Law, as a starting point, to pursue a peaceful path to resolve the Aceh question. The COHA, signed on 9 December 2002, ushered in great hopes for the Government for a peaceful solution to be finally obtained. We were all impressed by the warm and enthusiastic reception of the Acehnese people who perceived that peace, under the unitary state of Indonesia, had finally dawned on Aceh. Immediately after the signing of the COHA, the TNI had even unilaterally withdrawn from many positions, including that in Cot Trieng, to show their good will that military confrontation was no Ionger necessary. GAM members were to be received, and accepted, as members ofthe Indonesian nation. We all agree that the first two months of the implementation of COHA had witnessed, however, instead of confidence being built on both sides as expected, increasingly grave violations of the COHA as well as the Law of Indonesia being made by GAM. Now, what are the issues that make the JC meeting is necessary in the view of Indonesia? It is a matter of basic principle and most imperative that the unitary state and territorial integrity of Indonesia is sacrosanct. Therefore there will be no room for GAM to interpret COHA as the road to independence. After the failure of GAM to show up in Geneva on 25 April 2003 in the supposedly Joint Council Meeting, my Government has decided to proceed with an integrated operation in Aceh. However, my Government is also of the view to keep the dialogue process open. Therefore we would like to express our appreciation for the initiative to convene the Tokyo Meeting today. With the spirit of salvaging the implementation of COHA and with the good faith, my Government requested us to come here to revive again the dialogue. As the Tokyo Conference last December has proven to bring a positive result, it is our fervent hope that this meeting will also bring equally positive result in the sense that we alI together commit to save COHA. However, let me reiterate and make clear my government's firm position, that it is absolutely imperative that the purpose of this meeting is to secure the explicit statement of GAM to accept fully the NAD Law within the framework of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, and therefore abandon its effort for independence of Aceh from the Republic of Indonesia, and it will begin to place all of its weapons, ammunitions and ordnance, without delay, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the COHA. lf GAM is willing to explicitly pronounce its statement regarding these basic points, then we can proceed to discuss and agree on how to resume the implementation of COHA. We all are fully aware that there is no certainty that peaceful solution can be obtained, if the leadership of GAM continues not to honour its commitments. It is my fervent hope that the international community will be able to convince GAM leadership that the decision to pursue the peaceful means to the Aceh question lies on them. Thank You.
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Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Canberra - Australia |
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