Aceh Monitoring Mission

The Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), established by the European Union according to the Memorandum of Understanding between former Acehnese rebel movement GAM and the Government of Indonesia on 15 August 2005. The AMM is once of many missions under the EU's European Security and Defence Policy.^[1]

The Aceh Monitoring Mission, led by Mr Pieter Feith from the EU, has been established to monitor the implementation of various aspects of the peace agreement set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on 15 August 2005 in Helsinki, Finland. The European Union, together with five contributing countries from ASEAN (Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines and Singapore), Norway and Switzerland, are providing monitors for the peace process in Aceh (Indonesia).

Following a brief interim presence (IMP) since the signing of the MoU, the AMM was officially launched on 15 September 2005, covering an initial period of 6 months. It was thereafter been extended until 15 December 2006. The presence of AMM is based on an official invitation from the GoI and with the full support of the leadership of the GAM.

The AMM is undertaking this mission in order to contribute to a peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict in Aceh. This has been made all the more important by the terrible tsunami disaster of 26 December 2004 and the suffering it inflicted on the Acehnese people. The EU and ASEAN fully respect the territorial integrity of Indonesia and see the future of Aceh as being within the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. AMM is completely impartial by nature and does not represent or favour any of the parties.

The Head of Mission (HoM) reports to the Council of the European Union through the Political and Security Committee and to Javier Solana, Secretary General/High Representative of the Council of the EU on matters related to the AMM. He will inform the parties, the CMI, and the contributing countries on possible violations of the MoU.

Objectives

The objective of the AMM is to assist the GoI and the GAM in their implementation of the MoU. The AMM will not take on a negotiation role. Should this be needed during the implementation process, it will be the responsibility of the two parties and the original facilitator, i.e. the Chairman of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). For the final period of its mandate from 15 September 2006 to 15 December 2006 this will include the following tasks:

• investigate and rule on complaints and alleged violations of the Memorandum of Understanding;

• establish and maintain liaison and good cooperation with the parties.

As part of the AMM’s tasks the decommissioning of GAM armaments and the relocation of non-organic military and police forces was fully completed on 5 January 2006. In accordance with the MoU the GAM handed over all of its 840 weapons to AMM and on 27 December 2005 it officially disbanded its military wing (TNA). Equally the GoI has fulfilled its commitments by relocating its non-organic military and police. The number of police and military (TNI) forces remaining in Aceh are within the maximum strength of 14.700 for the TNI and 9100 for the police, in accordance with the MoU.

Human rights

The AMM has also monitored the human rights situation, the process of legislative change and the reintegration of GAM members. The Law on the Governing of Aceh was enacted by the National Parliament (DPR) on 11 July 2006 and signed by the President of Indonesia on 1 August 2006. Through discussions facilitated by AMM, the parties to the peace process have consensually agreed that there are no disputed amnesty cases under the MoU.

As a response to the positive progress of the peace process and the firm commitment by the parties the AMM will reduce its number of monitors in Aceh. From 15 September 2006 the mission will function in a configuration of 36 monitors. The AMM district offices will be closed down on 11 September 2006. Thereafter, mobile monitoring from Banda Aceh will be available for deployment throughout Aceh as necessary.

The mission comprises personnel with expertise in the whole range of competencies needed to fulfil the tasks of the mission. AMM is a civilian and not a military mission. Its members do not carry weapons. Some monitors will have a military background as this is necessary to perform certain technical tasks required by the mission. All monitors wear recognisable white shirts with AMM logo. Monitors will conduct their monitoring tasks by patrolling and communicating with both parties, and by carrying out inspections and investigations as required.

Costs

The costs of the mission are financed from the EU budget (EUR 9.3 million) and by contributions of EU Member States and participating countries (EUR 6 million).

References

1. ^ "EU, Asian peace monitors arrive for Aceh mission" - Forbes

External links

• AMM homepage
• AMM.europa
• "Inter-Peace to Replace Role of Aceh Monitoring Mission" - Tempo Interactive
• "Aceh monitoring mission reduces personnel ahead of elections" - People's Daily Online
• "Aceh rebels begin disarmament" - The Daily Star
• "EU extends monitoring mission in Aceh" - People's Daily Online
• "European Union Requested to Extend Aceh Monitoring Presence" - Worldwatch Institute
• "EU hails launch of Aceh monitoring mission" - EurActiv
• "Peace mission likely to stay on in Aceh" - China Post
• "Europe and Asia: a relationship that matters" - The Hindu
• "Disaster diplomacy in Aceh" - Reuters Alertnet
• "Learning from the Aceh peace process" - Minda News