ACEH -- PROGRESS TOWARD PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000337 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, DRL; NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL ID SUBJECT: ACEH -- PROGRESS TOWARD PEACEFUL ELECTIONS REF: JAKARTA 223 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Cameron R. Hume, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Mission is promoting free and peaceful April legislative elections in Aceh amid a tense pre-election climate. The Ambassador discussed Aceh in meetings with President Yudhoyono and with former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari. Between now and election day, the Ambassador will travel to Aceh, Mission will send observers to key spots for several weeks, and we are considering funding a modest observation mission from the Carter Center. ¶3. (C) SUMMARY (Con'd): In other hopeful developments, President Yudhoyono made a strong public statement calling on all sides to maintain peace, during his recent visit to Banda Aceh. Former pro-separatist leaders also made a clear public statement against separatism. Moreover, a new police chief with a stellar reputation has been assigned to Aceh Province to take action against recent violence. END SUMMARY. ¶4. (C) In light of rising election fever in Aceh (See reftel)--and in addition to on-going Mission programs to deter violence--Mission is undertaking a series of preventative measures to foster peaceful elections in Aceh: --Ambassador spoke with President Yudhoyono to express our concern over breakdown of law and order in Aceh. The President agreed. --Mission officers met with senior security officials to urge steps to restore calm in Aceh. These officials confirmed that the upsurge in violence is linked to both pro-separatist and former militia groups but assured us that concerted efforts have begun to mitigate the violence. ¶5. (C) In addition, Mission is planning the following steps: --The Ambassador will send a group of officers and FSNs to Aceh from mid-March through the April 9 elections, as roving observers in some of the districts where tensions are high. --We are considering funding several small Carter Center observation teams to key points in Indonesia, with focus on Aceh. --Ambassador will write an op-ed piece expressing USG support for Indonesia's territorial integrity and encouraging all parties to act within the peace corridor of the 2005 peace MoU. ¶6. (C) Proactive GOI and civil society actions have lessened tension in Aceh over the past two weeks. President Yudhoyono visited Banda Aceh on February 23, calling all sides to "opt for peace over conflict." He denounced both those who are calling for a military crackdown and those appealing for separatism. In a similar vein, Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf published a byliner in English-language Jakarta Post on February 21 reassuring "all parties" that Aceh is committed to peace within the framework of the MoU, and pleading with all to refrain from "intimidation and terror." ¶7. (SBU) Partai Aceh (PA),the former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) political party, sent its own conciliatory signals on February 23. PA leaders held a press conference at which they affirmed that PA stands firmly behind a unitary Republic of Indonesia as outlined in the 2005 MoU and that PA full respects Indonesian laws. "Clearly, there is no mechanism for freedom (from Indonesia) or a referendum (for Aceh independence) in the Helsinki MoU," PA Chair Muzakkir Manaf stated. This statement was meant to reduce GOI worries that a victory for PA in the April elections could lead to a referendum for separatism. ¶8. (C) Former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, who brokered the 2005 Helsinki peace agreement, visited Indonesia February 21-25 to encourage all sides to take a more conciliatory stance. Ahtisaari briefed the Ambassador, saying that while he does not see Aceh at a crisis point yet, he is concerned about rising tensions spurred by both PA and nationalist groups. He said he would try to convince PA to sign a declaration stating its opposition to separatism. He also said an international observation presence in the lead-up to elections would help calm the waters. He welcomed the Ambassador's plans to dispatch a small observation team. JAKARTA 00000337 002 OF 002 ¶9. (C) Ahtisaari also met with President Yudhoyono, Vice President Yusuf Kalla (who played a key role in the peace accord),and former GAM leader Malik Mahmood. An Ahtisaari advisor told us that Mahmood has at times played an unhelpful role by encouraging PA separatist sentiment. However, Mahmood told Ahtisaari that he is fully behind the MoU and opposed to a referendum, the advisor told DepPol/C. Ahtisaari traveled to Banda Aceh on February 24 to meet with government officials and local political party leaders. In a public statement, he appealed for a stronger security environment to prevent localized conflicts from spreading. ¶10. (C) In another positive development, National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendrarso replaced an ineffective Aceh Police Chief with one of his most trusted and respected aides, General Adityawarman. This appointment is hoped to result in a more vigorous investigation of recent political violence, and help restore confidence among Acehnese in law enforcement with elections approaching. ¶11. (C) Ahtisaari told the Ambassador he had been informed that President Yudhoyono is moving to replace Major General Sunarko (one name),the Aceh Regional Military Commander. Sunarko would be replaced before the elections with someone more conciliatory. We were unable to confirm this report with official sources. Sunarko is a hard-nosed nationalist who believes that GAM continues to be a genuine threat to national integrity, those who know Sunarko said. Resentful of Irwandi, Sunarko complains that GAM is getting a larger share of political largesse than is the military, a well-informed source said. ¶12. (C) The political temperature in Aceh remains hot. Proactive GOI steps coupled with international support such as elections observation hopefully will help ensure peaceful elections and the consolidation of the reconciliation process. HUME