National

TNI Still Focused on Reconciliation in Aceh
Friday, 26 August, 2005 | 10:01 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has said that differences of interpretation in the Indonesian government-Free Aceh Movement (GAM) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will not affect the TNI.

Therefore, following the peace agreement, the TNI shall still be focused on reconciliation efforts.

“The security arrangements that involve the TNI are very clear,” Sutarto told reporters after the handing over of the position of Chairman of the General Border Committee of Malaysia-Indonesia (GBC-Malindo) in Jakarta on Thursday (25/08).

Sutarto said he hoped that GAM members would no longer bear weapons following the MoU signing except the weapons that were to be handed over.

He added that the TNI has an obligation to protect the people of Aceh.

Sutarto admitted that several points in the agreement still require to be clarified.

However, this is still being discussed with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security so that there will be no multi interpretation.

Sutarto said he considered the situation in Aceh was still conducive.

If there were one or two incidents, he said, this was only because of disagreements between several parties regarding the Aceh peace agreement.

“However, the percentage is still extremely small,” he said. (Fanny Febiana-Tempo News Room)