March 3, 2006

The Government of Japan decided to extend grant aid for conflict prevention and peace building amounting to one billion yen in total to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the Programme for Peace Building and Reintegration Assistance to Amnestied GAM Prisoners Recipients, Demobilized GAM Combatants and Conflict-affected Communities throughout Aceh. Notes to this effect were exchanged on March 2 (Thu) in Jakarta between Mr. Yutaka Iimura, Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, and Mr. John Stephen Cook, Chief of Mission, IOM Indonesia.

Fighting became more frequent between the Government of Indonesia and GAM (Free Aceh Movement) from 1998, but after the peace talks that began in January 2005, the conflict was brought to an end by the signing of a formal agreement on August 15, 2005. IOM, acting in close cooperation with the Government of Indonesia, has drawn up a reintegration assistance programme for those who accept amnestied GAM prisoners and demobilized GAM combatants, and has promoted the work of registering them.

Under these circumstances, the Government of Indonesia and IOM made a request to the Government of Japan for grant aid for conflict prevention and peace building, for the funding which is necessary to support the reintegration and independence of amnestied GAM prisoners and demobilized GAM combatants through job training, and to develop the conflict-affected communities.

It is hoped that this program will promote the reintegration of demobilized soldiers and combatants through economic independence and that the total economic development of Aceh including conflict-affected communities will be achieved.