The Helsinki peace agreement between the Government of Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) can be achieved when the Government of Indonesia has restored the authority to manage Aceh toward the people of Aceh in the frame of Unitary Republic of Indonesia. This authority is an instrument to maintain the existence of Aceh, both as a nation and a state, thus, the idea of GAM’s independence previously associated closely with the power or authority to manage the people of Aceh by themselves.
This was raised by M. Nazaruddin, lecturer of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Malikussaleh University in Lhoksumawe, Aceh, in an open examination of his doctoral program in sociology at UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Saturday (3/12). In his research dissertation, he said peace agreement of Indonesia and GAM in the form of authority division is a representation of political victory of GAM resistance against Indonesia. But on the other hand, it is also a form of submission of GAM toward political reality and political schemes offered by the GoI. "No less important is the fact that the Government of Indonesia is aware that a pluralistic Indonesia should be managed with a strategy of multicultural politics," he said.
He added that the peace agreement was achieved because of the granting of greater authority to the Government of Aceh. While the central government has only six authorities in Aceh, namely foreign affairs, external defense, national security, monetary and fiscal matters, justice and religious freedom.
Settlement of political disputes between the GAM and the GoI can be resolved through dialogue. This is an evidence that a political dispute cannot be solved with the logic of violence but political means between two parties based on mutual understanding, giving and receiving.