Military

DATE=4/16/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= ACEH PEACE TALKS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-324001

BYLINE=NANCY-AMELIA COLLINS

DATELINE=JAKARTA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: Indonesian Government and Aceh Rebels End Round of Talks in Helsinki

INTRO: Indonesian officials and rebels from the separatist Free Aceh Movement concluded their third round of talks Saturday in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from Jakarta that the talks ended on an upbeat note.

TEXT: Negotiators from the Indonesian government and the separatist Free

Aceh Movement ended their talks in the Finnish capital saying progress is being achieved on both political and economic issues, but each side acknowledges that security remains their biggest obstacle.

A spokesman for the Free Aceh Movement, Bahtiar Abdullah, who attended the talks in Helsinki, said continued fighting in Aceh is hampering the two sides from reaching a lasting peace settlement.

/// BAHTIAR ACT ///

"We are very concerned about this development on the ground, and that has

been put on the record . both parties will do their utmost to restrain their security forces in the field during the negotiation process."

/// END ACT ///

The peace talks had originally been scheduled to end Sunday, but both sides say the major issues were covered. Indonesian officials say they are needed back in Jakarta for a summit of Asian and African leaders next week

Mr. Bahtiar called the talks "very constructive" and says both sides have agreed to a fourth round of talks on May 26th in Helsinki.

/// 2nd BAHTIAR ACT ///

"My feeling about this fourth round has been very, We have discussed very

comprehensive issues and also we've had some very good constructive discussions, but the final outcome of the whole process has yet to be seen. And this is something that we are cautiously optimistic (about) reaching a comprehensive, attainable, peaceful, solution for tsunami Aceh."

/// END ACT ///

The Free Aceh Movement, known as GAM, has been fighting since 1976 for

independence in the oil and gas rich province of Aceh, located on the northern tip of Sumatra Island.

More than 12-thousand people have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them

civilians.

Indonesian government spokesman Dino Djalal says the talks are moving in the

right direction and the government is hopeful a peaceful solution to the long- lasting conflict can be reached by July.

/// DINO ACT ///

"We welcome the opportunity to discuss in substantive details the

arrangements for autonomy or self-government that was to be the heart of a political settlement between the two sides. We are committed to finding a peaceful political settlement and we are committed to continuing

these negotiations."

/// END ACT ///

The government and GAM met for the first round of peace talks in January,

prompted by the December tsunami disaster that claimed over 200-thousand lives in Aceh.

It was the first time the two sides met face-to-face since May 2003, after

the military launched an all-out offensive against the rebels following the breakdown of earlier peace talks.

A second round of talks in February was seen as a significant step forward

after both sides agreed to discuss an autonomy arrangement. Before that, GAM had refused to give up its demand for independence. (SIGNED)

HK/NEB/NAC/KL