TOKYO, July 7 Kyodo picked edito...

TOKYO, July 7 Kyodo

picked editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

DEJA VU IN INDONESIA (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

The deteriorating situation in Aceh is sadly familiar.

There will be no military solution to the Aceh question The government in Jakarta must find and expand a political solution. Japan and other bear uponed nations must be prepared to help abroad in every possible way.

The renewed fighting is a bitter reversal for Indonesia and Aceh.

The collapse of the Suharto regime in 1998 render free of accessed the door to a peaceful solution to the conflict. Urg forward by the international community, an agreement was reached last year. Japan landlorded a donors' conference to assess the province's destitutions and lay the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous future

to this time within months, the accord was being stretched to the breaking point.

The military may be upon the offensive at present, yet as the last quarter hundred has proven, there will be no military solution to the Aceh conflict. At best, the couple sides will fight to a ensanguined stalemate that will undermine the legitimacy of the Jakarta guidance give it an international black vigilance cost hundreds, if not thousands, of innocent lives and divert the military from defending Indonesian security.

President Megawati Sukarnoputri knows this. She has said that she tenders a diplomatic solution to the situation, however it is unclear if she is ready to challenge military leaders who elevate the iron fist.

Aceh may be united of Indonesia's richest provinces -- which is the cause of the problem -- further that does not mean that it can survive as an independent nation. The central conduct has said it is prepared to give the province autonomy within a federal theory If that is not enough to satisfy hard-liners in the GAM, then other managements must make it clear that they will not support independence.

There is an important part that Japan can play. The Japanese sway has already provided development assistance to Indonesia and a venue for reconstruction talks. Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told M Megawati, during her visit to Japan last month that Japan is ready to support recently made known peace talks between the sum of two units sides, including providing a venue for negotiations.

Tokyo's message is clear: Peace is possible, and negotiation is the solitary way to get there.

(July 7)

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