[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 165 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2624-E2625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED BY THE 
   GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA AND THE FREE ACEH MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Sunday, December 18, 2005

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Res. 456, ``expressing support for the memorandum of understanding 
signed by the government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh 
Movement on August 15, 2005, to end the conflict in Aceh, a province in 
Sumatra, Indonesia.'' Let us begin by first thanking Congressman 
Crowley for his tireless work and steadfast leadership on this issue.
  For over thirty years there has been armed conflict in the Indonesian 
province of Aceh between the Indonesian military and the Free Aceh 
Movement. The Free Aceh Movement had demanded independence while the 
Indonesian government has fought to maintain their control over the 
region. The fighting in the region has not only devastated the 
landscape, but has led to an estimated 15,000 deaths in the region.
  Last December's tragic tsunami killed at least 165,000 people in 
Aceh. If something good can be taken from the horrible disaster, it is 
that the tsunami's destruction led the Indonesian government and the 
Free Aceh Movement to set aside their three decades of fighting to 
enable the rebuilding of Aceh.
  With the help of former President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, the 
parties agreed in July

[[Page E2625]]

to a draft memorandum of understanding to end the conflict. The 
memorandum of understanding not only provided a timetable for 
disarmament and troop withdrawal, but also granted the people of Aceh 
with new political powers and the right to retain much of the revenues 
of resources extracted from the province. The Indonesian President has 
also granted amnesty to hundreds of Free Aceh Movement members, and the 
Free Aceh movement has agreed to forgo its demand for independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues can understand and respect just 
how difficult it can often be to reach compromises in highly charged 
political situations. It is precisely because of this fact that we as a 
Congress should whole-heartedly congratulate the Indonesian government 
and the Free Aceh Movement for their willingness to compromise. Their 
ability to compromise has made both parties better off, and perhaps can 
serve as an example to all of us. I sincerely hope the memorandum of 
understand the parties reached will stand the test of time and be the 
first step toward extended peace for the Aceh region.
  Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I believe this country can most show its support 
of this peace process not only with kind and supportive words, but with 
kind and supporting actions. I encourage the Secretary of State and the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development 
to commit resources in guaranteeing the peace and building a strong 
civil society in Aceh.

                          ____________________