Senator Sanaullah Baloch
Establishment in Islamabad lives in luxuriant capital of poverty stricken Pakistan has always denied the fact that the country is in trouble. They also avoid recognizing that the country has serious political flaws which resulting in to crisis in to crisis.
The growing detestation among the hospitable population of Balochistan and FATA is the outcome of colonial policies and ignorance of Islamabad towards the genuine socio-economic and political demands of impoverished regions.
Many countries have gone through the serious internal conflicts and most of them have succeeded dealing with crisis through political means, not by force.
Indonesia, the largest Muslim populated country in the world, by and large ruled by military has gone through cycle of political turmoil. August 30, 1999 East Timorese popular uprising and vote for independence, and failed military offensives against autonomy seeking Aceh rebels has compelled the Indonesian military leaders to act politically and politely to deal with its internal political crisis.
Tsunami in 2004 was also a wakeup call for Jakarta to settle down its longstanding politico-economic conflict with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) or prepare for another “East Timor”.
Aceh is located in the Northwest of Sumatra Island of Indonesia, surrounded by Malacca Strait in the north, Indian Ocean in the south and the west and badly devastated by 2004 Tsunami.
In 1976, desperate political activists of Free Aceh Movement took up arms against the Indonesian authorities and demanded for free Aceh. The Armed struggle and resentment was outcome of neo-colonial approach of Jakarta, where people of Aceh were kept deprived by the natural wealth produced in Aceh but controlled by central government. The unrest was also the result of uneven distribution of income, threat of culture and demographic marginalization and exploitation of natural resources produced from Aceh region.
In the early 1990s, thousands of troops deployed to flush out the rebels from their mountain strongholds, but Indonesian government and military failed to crush the insurgency in Aceh. In December 2002 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed between GAM and GoI (government of Indonesia) to end to the violence but neither side fulfilled their part of commitment which leads to another phase of violence.
Thirty year long conflict which claimed an estimated 10,000 lives, sufferings, displacements, disappearances and gross human right abuses, finally came to an end after international mediation, political dialogue and genuine guarantees to safe guard the politico-economic rights of people Aceh.
In August 2005 Crisis Management Initiatives lead by former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari took initiative to bring back GOI and GAM on peace track. Both parties confirm their commitment to a peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict in Aceh with dignity for all.
Under the august 15, 2005 peace deal GAM agreed to give up arms to the foreign monitors, while Indonesia has pledged for de-militarization of Aceh. In historic peace deal GoI and GAM agreed on the following (a) governing of Aceh (law on the governing of Aceh, political participation, economy, rule of law, (b) Human Rights (c) Amnesty and reintegration in to society (d) security arrangements (e) Aceh monitoring mission and finally (f) dispute settlement.
With regard to governing Aceh province, Indonesian government agreed that “Aceh will exercise authority within all sectors of public affairs, which will be administered in conjunction with its civil and judicial administration, except in the fields of foreign affairs, external defence, and national security, monetary and fiscal matters.”
Replying to the economic demands of people of Aceh, Jakarta agreed to shrink its economic power and will allow Aceh to raise funds with external loans, right to set interest rates, set and raise taxes to fund internal expenditures and right to conduct trade and business internally and internationally.
Aceh was also empowered to invite foreign direct investment and manage tourism department.
After successful peace deal the World Bank announced socio-economic package of $8 billion which will be spent on rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aceh by 2009.
Balochistan politico-economic demands are not different with Aceh. But Islamabad has continuously shown its dismay and reluctance over the subject of politico-economic empowerment of impoverished Balochistan province.
Administrative and economic control of Gwadar port project turned into a major bone of contention between Islamabad and Baloch nationalist, while Jakarta agreed under the August 2005 agreement that the development, administrative and economic control of all seaports and airports within the territory of Aceh will be a provincial subject and Aceh will enjoy direct and unhindered access to foreign countries, by sea and air.
For sustainable peace and wining the minds and hearts of people of Aceh, Indonesian government agreed to establish a Human rights court and a Truth and Reconciliation commission with the task of formulating and determining reconciliation measures.
Both parties agreed on establishment of Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) by the European Union and ASEAN countries to monitor the implementation of the commitments agreed and signed by the both parties.
Prevailing mistrust among provinces and with central government in Pakistan is deepening where Islamabad is imposing and implementing its policies by use of brute force.
People of Balochistan have been persecuted on regular basis for demanding control and fair share of their natural resources. While Indonesia agreed that Aceh will have jurisdiction over living natural resources in the territorial sea surrounding Aceh, and region was entitled to retain seventy (70) per cent of the revenues from all current and future hydrocarbon deposits and other natural resources in the territory, as well as in the territorial sea surrounding Aceh.
Political unrest at large in country has overshadowed the Balochistan crisis and issue of federal-provincial relations. Political stability, peace and economic development in the country could not be achieved until the unresolved political questions between provinces and Islamabad have not been dealt properly.
Writer is Member Senate of Pakistan.
balochbnp@gmail.com |
