Press Release

No.232/PHM/IV/03

The Indonesian Government Evaluates the Aceh Peace Process

Due to "serious violations" of the peace process by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the Government of Indonesia decides to evaluate the Aceh peace process. Among such infractions are GAM is in breach of the peace process by its persistent campaigning for independence and fails to meet the deadline for disarmament as stipulated in the peace agreement. GAM also conducted numerous attacks on Government soldiers and police, widespread intimidation of the people including that of local administrators, and levying taxes on the Acehnese. Moreover, GAM has failed to gradually put their weapons beyond use in designated places as required by the agreement.

The Government of Indonesia has already reported those infractions to the Joint Security Committee, the Joint Council, and the Henry Dunant Center, however the latter failed to persuade GAM to obey its obligations under the peace agreement.


Driven by the reality that the agreement is not fully implemented by GAM, the Government of Indonesia has begun to reassess and reevaluate the implementation of the agreement. While the Government continues to hold its commitment as stipulated in the agreement and believes that the dialogue would be the best option to solve the deep problem, it however underlines, that if the Government's renewed efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement continues to fail, it will have little option but to exercise its duty of upholding the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Indonesia.

New York, 8 April 2003