BPMIGAS welcomes Geneva peace accord on Aceh

Indonesian upstream oil and gas authority (BPMIGAS) said on Monday it welcomed the signing of a truce in Geneva, Switzerland, on the same day that was aimed to end more than 25-year fighting in oil and gas producing province of Aceh.

?We joyfully welcome the signing of the peace accord between the Indonesian government and GAM in Geneva to day,? Sidick Nitikusuma, an expert staff at BPMIGAS, told Petromindo.com.

GAM stands for Free Aceh Movement.

The peace accord was meant to provide for a quick end to hostilities, which will be followed by partial demilitarization of Aceh. According to the treaty, GAM will disarm and their weapons will be stored in cantonment areas under international supervision. Most government forces will be withdrawn.

Sidick said peace in Aceh would support the development of the oil and gas industry in the area where ExxonMobil Oil Inc (EMOI), the Indonesian unit of U.S. oil and gas giant ExxonMobil Corp, has gas operations.

?The peace accord would also enable EMOI to implement community development programs so as to improve the lifestyle of people in North Aceh, which have not been carried out due to security reasons,? Sidick said.

EMOI shut down part of its operations in Aceh in March 2001 for several months due to security reasons.

GAM had been fighting for independence since 1976. More than 10,000 people have been killed since then, some 1,200 this year alone.

GAM had several times been accused of killing and kidnapping ExxonMobil workers in Aceh. (alex)