Autonomy plan the basis for Aceh talks says mediator

HELSINKI - Jakarta's offer of limited autonomy for its restive Aceh province will provide a basis for peace talks this week between Indonesia and Aceh separatists, the talks' mediator Martti Ahtisaari said on Sunday.

"The whole exercise is aimed at looking at whether the possibility of ... special autonomy can actually provide the basis for ending the armed conflict," former Finnish President Ahtisaari, 67, told Reuters in an interview.

"One of the hard facts of life is that, as everyone knows, there is not great support (internationally) for any other solution except the one we are looking at."

The autonomy package offered by Jakarta includes concessions towards self-rule, Islamic law and a bigger slice of the benefits from Aceh's economic resources.

Indonesia has made similar offers of autonomy before, but they have been rejected by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has insisted on ultimate independence from Jakarta.

The two sides are due to meet in Helsinki on Monday for a second round of talks aimed at ending three decades of conflict in the gas-rich province, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, which was devastated by Dec. 26's Indian Ocean tsunami.

A first round was held three weeks ago.

Analysts say the meeting should aim to secure a ceasefire so rehabilitation work can proceed more smoothly in devastated Aceh, where more than 235,000 people are dead or missing and a further 400,000 have been displaced.

However, Ahtisaari said he aimed to secure a longer-term solution.

"I don't think (a ceasefire) can be an end in itself ... We need a security arrangement, the disarmament of people, but that has to come as part of an overall package that consists of many other details," he said.

"I don't think we can sweep the problems under the carpet. We have to be brave ... If we then succeed then it's good and well. If we don't, at least everyone knows on what basis the solution ... couldn't be found. "

Security remains a concern for aid workers in Aceh, and Australia and New Zealand issued an updated travel advisory on Saturday warning that Islamic extremists could be planning attacks against foreign relief workers.

Ahtisaari said that given the wide range of differences between the two sides, he would only consider the negotiations had failed if they could not find enough common ground to proceed beyond Wednesday.

"The idea that one could negotiate forever is an illusion. We have some time, and I am sure that if we make any progress it will be possible to get the parties back for a third round," he said.

"But I honestly don't believe that it is possible to negotiate for a year to two years. That means we are trying to avoid the issues that need to be looked at. "

- REUTERS