The Peace Project

Acts of God

The tsunami in South Asia took hundreds of thousands of lives. But it may also have been the springboard to saving hundreds from perishing in the country's civil war.

Aceh rebels and an Indonesian government delegation have met to start the third round of peace talks aimed at bringing lasting peace to the tsunami-ravaged province. . . .

After a tsunami on 26 December devastated Aceh, the rebels proclaimed a unilateral truce saying they wanted to help rescue efforts.

But the Indonesian military said it would continue combat operations until a formal ceasefire was signed, and the army commander has claimed his troops killed nearly 200 rebels in the first two months after the disaster.

"Today's talks were conducted in a good spirit," Cowell said on Tuesday. "On the agenda were the Free Aceh Movement's demands of a ceasefire, and the amnesty of political prisoners."

I, for one, am hoping that peace can emerge from the destruction of the tsunami, even though the Indonesian government has proved me wrong thus far.

posted by Sammy @ 6:11 PM