Gus Dur calls for clarity on Aceh pact

National figures -- Taufik Kiemas, Akbar Tandjung, Try Sutrisno, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, Wiranto, Hariman Siregar and Wimar Witoelar -- pose for a photograph after a meeting at Gus Dur's residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

The two-hour meeting, also attended by top politicians from a number of political parties, was held after Friday prayers to discuss national issues.

The forum was the third between the top national figures, with the first and second being hosted by former vice president Try Sutrisno and former military chief Gen. (ret.) Wiranto respectively.

Former president Gus Dur said the Friday meeting urged the government to be more transparent in its peace accord with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that would end nearly 30 years of conflict in the province.

The government should publicly explain everything contained within the agreement before it is signed with GAM on Monday, he added.

"So, the conclusion of our meeting is that the government should be more open about the settlement of the Aceh issue. There should be nothing concealed," Gus Dur told journalists.

"We don't know yet what the memorandum of understanding precisely consists of, while the government will sign it with GAM on Aug. 15."

Gus Dur said the government should again invite lawmakers to explain to them the details of the Aceh truce, before it was signed in Helsinki, Finland.

Earlier this week, House of Representatives leaders gave a major boost to the Aceh peace process during a consultation meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, although they had initially opposed the deal due to the 'internationalization' of the issue.

According to Gus Dur, the figures attending the Friday forum said that during the recent meeting with House leaders, the government had been reluctant to detail the precise contents of the MOU, even though lawmakers had their lent support to the peace deal.

The group also criticized the government in its attempts to resolve issues in troubled Papua province, which they claim has in fact worsened the situation.

The government's handling of the issue had caused the Papuan people to revive their demands for independence from Indonesia, Gus Dur said.

Thousands of people in Papua held rallies on Friday to oppose the implementation of the special autonomy law for the province, in response to the break up of their territory into three provinces.

Courtesy: Jakarta Post