Most AMM members to end peace mission in Indonesia's Aceh on Sept. 15

Most of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) members will conclude their assignment in Aceh, Indonesia, on Sept. 15, head of the AMM district office in Tapaktuan, South Aceh, Lt Col Murray McCullough, said on Monday.

On Sept. 10, AMM members in 11 district offices would leave for Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, to prepare for their return to their home countries, Antara news agency quoted Murray as saying in Banda Aceh.

He said only 35 members would be left behind to continue monitoring the peace process in the region including the implementation of regional elections scheduled on Dec. 15.

The European Union meanwhile would send a special team called the Election Observer Mission with members from 25 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Europe to monitor the elections.

"Security condition in Aceh is improving very quickly. I am convinced the monitoring team will work professionally to observe the elections," he said.

He said the peace process had so far gone well, supported by strong commitment from the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). He said people had strongly hoped that lasting peace would really come true and all problems could be settled internally.

Representatives of the Indonesian government and the GAM signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for peace on Aug. 15 last year in Helsinki, ending their 30 years of conflict that had claimed thousands of lives.

Murray said process of decommissioning, government troops withdrawal and reintegration had been smooth in line with the points in the MOU.

Source: Xinhua