Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-05-Speech-4-216"
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"en.20030605.7.4-216"2
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"Mr President, I would like to divide my speech into two sections: I will first of all discuss Aceh and then I will go on to look at Papua.
I am now coming to the second aspect of the parliamentary questions, namely the situation in Papua. You are no doubt aware that the Papuan Special Autonomy Law was passed by the Indonesian Parliament in 2001. In 2002, following the conclusions of a study carried out jointly by Indonesian and European experts, the Commission mobilised funds from its Rapid Reaction Mechanism to support the implementation of this law by the Indonesian authorities, making available to them an expert on decentralisation issues and Indonesia. I strongly support the fact that this initiative was based on the European Union’s strict respect for the territorial integrity of Indonesia and that it had received the full support and collaboration of the Indonesian authorities. Halfway through 2003, the Commission proposed technical assistance for the Provincial Government of Papua and the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law. The launch of this programme has not yet been approved by the Indonesian Government. The Commission hopes that this delay is due solely to technical reasons.
The Commission is aware of the Presidential Decree of 27 January 2003 creating three new provinces in Papua and the fact that the Indonesian Parliament, which must confirm the creation of these provinces, has not yet had its say on the matter. We are no less concerned about the consequences application of this decree could have on the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law for Papua. We are convinced that the path opened by the Special Law should be taken by the Indonesian authorities. The Commission calls on the Indonesian Government to implement the Special Law and maintains its offer of assistance in this framework. Similarly, the Commission reiterates its support for the territorial integrity of Indonesia and is mindful of respect for human rights in this province, as in all the other provinces of Indonesia.
As far as Aceh is concerned, the Commission, together with the presidency, is one of the four co-Chairs of the Tokyo Conference (Japan, United States, European Union, World Bank). This Conference encouraged the signature of a cease-fire between the Indonesian Government and the Aceh rebels based – and I must stress this – on the territorial integrity of Indonesia.
The Cessation of Hostilities Agreement is the most comprehensive endeavour undertaken to resolve a conflict that has been going on for 26 years in which 12 000 have lost their lives, the majority of them innocent civilians.
The Commission, by way of its Rapid Reaction Mechanism, contributed EUR 2.3 million to the deployment of 50 international observers in the province of Aceh. Unfortunately, the situation on the ground has meanwhile changed dramatically.
On 17 and 18 May in Tokyo, the Commission, with the other co-Chairs, participated in extensive talks lasting 11 hours between the Indonesian Government and the GAM (Free Aceh Movement) in order to save the cease-fire, which was in a precarious situation. Unfortunately, the talks failed, which resulted in the Indonesian president imposing martial law and launching a widespread military operation.
Since then, the Commission must confirm what the Members have said. The situation is very grave, the information we are receiving is more and more worrying and the human rights violations are extremely serious. We are also very concerned about the request to international and non-governmental aid organisations to leave the province and about the military censorship imposed on the press bodies covering the situation on the ground or reporting the events taking place in the province.
As far as the Commission is concerned, a military operation will not produce sustainable peace in Aceh, even if supposedly implemented with the best of intentions. We are therefore firmly convinced that the key to peace resides in good governance, justice, respect for human rights, the democratic process and development.
We take note of the statement by the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Mr Yudhoyono, according to which his government will respect the Geneva Convention and humanitarian law in the province of Aceh. The international community will, however, have to call on the Indonesian Government to guarantee access to the province for NGOs and international humanitarian bodies and to guarantee their safety, as this is a vital precondition for the rapid and transparent provision of assistance, needed desperately by the citizens and the populations most affected.
We are convinced that the only possible option is to renew dialogue around a negotiating table. The statement by the Indonesian Government, in which it stresses that it is still open to talks, confirms our opinion. We therefore encourage the government and the GAM to propose as soon as possible a framework allowing for the resumption of these negotiations. Like the other advocates of this initiative, the Commission will always be available to facilitate this process by any means possible."@en1
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