Indonesia, the enormous archipelago stretching out from South-east Asia to Oceania, is undergoing its election campaign to elect Parliamentary seats next April 9. Jakarta, the capital, is witnessing two different movements challenging the unity of the state, each one from opposite ends of the country. To the West, in the province of Aceh, tension between pro-independence guerrillas and the Indonesian army has sprouted again and seems to bring memories back to a conflict which went on for 30 years. To the East, Papuans have rallied again for independence with the slogan "Elections no, referendum, yes".

International 'think tank' International Crisis Group has warned this week over potential violence escalating in Indonesia, although it reports that it is unlikely that war breaks out in Aceh. Aceh, the westernmost province of the island of Sumatra and the whole country, went through a period of armed conflict between the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM, Free Aceh Movement), a pro-independence guerrilla, and the state army, until 2005, when both parties signed a peace agreement. With parliamentary elections ahead, now the army is afraid that the goal of independence is assumed by the Party of Aceh (Partai Aceh) -considered to be GAM's political successor-, a political party which is expected to win a considerable number of seats in the provincial parliament. During the last months, three former pro-independence fighters have been murdered, and shootings and grenade attacks have occurred. Even though they have no evidence, the GAM and Partai Aceh are convinced the army could be behind the attacks.

The International Crisis Group report [available here] states that the conflict outdoes the question of elections, so it recommends that confidence-building measures should be taken between both parties. All there is for the time being is a mutual accusation of violating the 2005 Helsinki peace agreements.

Demonstrations in West Papua
In the meantime, thousands of Papuans from the Indonesian island of New Guinea have taken to the streets to demand a referendum for independence of West Papua -one half of the island. According to Reuters, West Papua has also witnessed tension mounting between the Indonesian army and the pro-independence movements. Demonstrators called for the withdrawal of troops from the province and the end of "genocide for Melanesian race in West Papua".

Nicolas Jouwe, leader of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) has met this week with representatives of the Indonesian government to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Papua, a country that was taken over by Indonesia in 1969 after an irregular referendum. A soldier and two civilians have been killed in Papua in the last month.

Further information:

• ICG: Indonesia: Deep Distrust in Aceh as Elections Approach
• The Jakarta Post: Finally, Aceh local parties to take part in general election
• Reuters: Thousands rally in Indonesia's Papua, demand referendum
• Nationalia: Thousands take to the streets to demand independence for West Papua