Indonesia, Rebels Sign Landmark Truce Over Aceh
Indonesia and its separatist Aceh rebels signed an agreement Friday that will lead to their first formal cease-fire in 25 years of fighting in the province.
Hassan Wirayuda, Indonesia’s permanent U.N. representative in Geneva, and Zaini Abdullah, a rebel representative based in Sweden, signed the “joint understanding on a humanitarian pause” at an undisclosed location, a mediator said.
The “humanitarian pause” will start June 2, the Indonesian mission to U.N. offices in Geneva said in a statement. The cease-fire will last three months and will be reviewed regularly for renewal, the statement said.
The memorandum of understanding followed three rounds of talks organized by the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Center for Humanitarian Dialogue.
The rebels said they will not drop their demand for independence for the northwestern province, on the tip of Sumatra Island.
In Jakarta, President Abdurrahman Wahid reiterated that he will not accept the rebels’ demand for independence.
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