National

President: Aceh Problems Not Yet Over
Saturday, 20 August, 2005 | 20:25 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has explained that problems regarding Aceh were long-term and not yet over, despite the signing of a peace agreement between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on August 15, in Helsinki.

“This is only the beginning of everything. There are so many challenges and we must not underestimate these problems as if everything was alright,” said President Yudhoyono while delivering a speech at the anniversary of the Foreign Ministry on Friday (19/08).


The President said that the settlement of problems in Aceh were a combination of hard power (through the use of weapons) and soft power (diplomacy).

Therefore, all members of the general publis are requested to help in making a success of the ending of the conflict in Aceh that has lasted for 30 years so that Aceh shall remain at peace and still be part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia .

In relation to the tsunami disaster that hit Aceh, the President has requested that every Rupiah donated to build Aceh following the disaster be audited and be accounted for.

This way, the world will be able to see that Indonesia really wishes to establish a clean government that is free of corruption . (Sunariah-Tempo News Room)