If regional security is all about privileging cooperation above conflict in conducting inter-state relations, then peace within the constituent nations is the foremost condition for regional cooperation. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is the most successful regional cooperation arrangement in the developing world, is facing a challenge from identity based separatist movements.  The ethnic movements like the independence of South Mollucas, the Organisation for Independence of West Papua and the Aceh/Sumatra National Liberation Front challenge the integration of Indonesia but also the security of the Southeast Asian region. Hence, the peace accord signed between the Indonesian government and rebels from the Aceh province on 9 December 2002 may become a landmark in the integration process of Southeast Asia.

Issues in Contention

Aceh was once an independent Sultanate and has a long history of struggle against outside rule. The province remained independent despite continuous invasions by Dutch colonisers since 1870. In 1945, the Acehnese joined the fight for Indonesian independence against the Dutch. The Dutch transferred Aceh to the Javanese without consulting the local population. In subsequent efforts to consolidate Indonesian national identity self-government was denied to the Acehnese by coercive measures. Since then the Free Aceh Movement has been fighting to sever all ties with Indonesia and establish a staunchly Muslim independent state. The emergence of the Aceh/Sumatra National Liberation Front led by Hasan M di Tiro since 1976 added a revolutionary and violent dimension to this conflict. The Acehnese totally rejected the notion of ‘Indonesian’ identity on historical, cultural, sociological, economic and political grounds. This has been the basis for Tiro’s Redeclaration of Independence of Aceh/ Sumatra. On the other hand, Aceh/Sumatra being the world’s largest producer of natural gas, at over 1 million cubic meters a day, and petroleum at over 1.5 million barrels a day, the Indonesian regime does not want to lose such a lucrative area. Besides, grating independence to Aceh could lead to further disintegration of Indonesia on ethnic lines. This complexity has made Aceh the most lethal and contentious internal conflict in Southeast Asia.

Features of the Peace Accord

The peace accord signed by the Indonesian government and the Aceh rebels marks the beginning of a process to end the 26-year separatist war in Sumatra, which has claimed over 12,000 lives. The accord has four distinguishing features:

1.       It was brokered by the Henry Dunant Center, a Swiss non-governmental organisation, which has worked hard for two years to bring the two sides together for negotiations. Indonesia, the Aceh Freedom Movement and the Henry Dunant Center will constitute a joint council to resolve disputes regarding the implementation of the agreement.  

2.       The December 9 agreement signed in Geneva, consisting of nine articles, emphasises the idea of a ‘Forgotten War’ to ensure ‘enmity between them should be considered a thing of past’. This is the starting point for any negotiations and indicates the firm commitment of both sides for peace.

3.       The peace accord sidelined the sensitive issues of disarmament and demilitarisation. Instead it is based on the special autonomy bill proposed by Jakarta which provides for autonomy and control over revenues from the province’s timber and natural gas resources. The Geneva agreement also calls for free and fair elections in the province by 2004, which will enable a review of the autonomy issue by the elected representatives.

4.       On the other hand, the rebels would withdraw their forces to their base camps and cease all attacks upon government troops. They have also promised to disarm and store their weapons in special cantonments. For this purpose the agreement provides for establishing a Joint Monitoring Force Command comprising of 150 soldiers from the Indonesian army, local Aceh forces, the Philippines and Thailand. 

In addition, to prevent armed conflicts, troops from both sides are to relocate their defensive positions within the next two months. This will be followed by the demilitarisation of certain areas and determining a peace zone.

The content of the agreement shows that if the two parties soften their stand in the larger interests of a ‘forget and forgive’ attitude, one of the world’s oldest armed conflicts can be resolved. Today, secessionist movements with ethnic and religious motives is a common phenomenon in of many parts of the world. The Geneva agreement indicates that third party mediation, especially by a non-governmental organisation with substantial autonomy can be a useful instrument for resolving the problem of managing diversities. This offers a model for resolving conflicts within the Southeast Asian region but also other conflict prone regions like South Asia.