Preparatory Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh

November 28, 2002

Japan, together with the U.S., the European Union (EU) and the World Bank, will hold a Preparatory Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh from 9 a.m. on December 3 (Tue) at the Institute for International Cooperation, Ichigaya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, with a view to assisting efforts toward a peaceful solution to the conflicts in Aceh, Indonesia.
Ambassadors and other officials from some 20 countries and international organizations will attend the Conference. From Indonesia, H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, and other government officials, as well as representatives from people of Aceh will participate. Co-chairs' statement will be issued as an outcome of the Conference.
In Aceh, located at the westernmost part of the Republic of Indonesia, there have been armed conflicts between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), an armed organization aiming at separation and independence from Indonesia, and the government's security authorities, causing a large number of casualties among the local residents. In order to address this situation, the Government of Indonesia has granted special autonomy to Aceh and held negotiations with the leaders of GAM for a peaceful solution to the issue. The process toward peace is now in the final stage as GAM announced recently that it would sign in early December (scheduled for December 9) an agreement for the cessation of hostilities which provides as a premise that the GAM side accept a special autonomy status.
In light of such circumstances, Japan recognizes it important for the international community to express its support for a peaceful solution to the problem within the territorial integrity of Indonesia, and encourage the efforts aimed at the signing of the agreement to cease hostilities in early December. Japan also regards it important that the international community expresses its readiness to support the cease-fire monitoring program after peace is achieved as well as Aceh's social and economic reconstruction.
Since the end of the Cold War, religious or ethnic conflicts, especially internal conflicts, have been occurring worldwide. It is vital for the perpetual solution to these conflicts that the international community will extend, in concert, flexible and continuous support for the "Consolidation for Peace" in addition to conventional humanitarian reconstruction assistance.
On this understanding, Japan will hold this preparatory conference of like-minded countries and international organizations as a part of its efforts for the "Consolidation of Peace".

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