Reintegration of former GAM members into society remains difficult : Ahtasaari

Although the peace process in Nanggroe Aceh Darusslam (NAD) province based on the Helsinki peace agreement between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is generally running well, the reintegration of former GAM members into the local civlian society is not happening as smoothly as expected, former Aceh peace facilitator Martti Ahtasaari said.

"I think the reintegration process remains a heavy task for all of us because it still needs several more years," Ahtasaari who is also a former president of Finland said here on Tuesday.

Therefore, Ahtasaari said he would discuss a number of items related with the reintegration process provided for in the Helsinki peace agreement with Jakarta.

Ahtasaari who is now director of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) said the peace process in Aceh was already running in a good and encouraging way.

"In my meetings with the people of Aceh in the districts of Southeast Aceh, Central Aceh, and Banda Aceh, they said they were enjoying the peace process," said Ahtasaari in the company of Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf, Iskandar Muda Military Commander Maj Gen Supriandin, and Aceh Police chief Insp Gen Rismawan.

He expressed hope the ...