TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The central government has announced it will not hold any further dialog with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Therefore, GAM has been advised to make direct contact with local government instead. Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno announced this to the press at the State Palace on Friday (4/1). Hari explained this in response to a question concerning GAM’s proposal to involve foreign mediators in dialogs with the Indonesian government. Hari said GAM is not a country, so it does not need foreign mediators for a dialog. “We would be equating GAM with the central government if we did this, it would exaggerate their position,” he said firmly. The Minister was certain that the local government would be able to handle this matter properly. Furthermore, it is not clear who the GAM personnel are anyhow. “Who are they really? So far, they have not had the courage to come to Jakarta,” he said. In principle, Hari said, it is still possible to engage in dialog. However, the local government will be more competent in handling this matter. “So, if GAM wants to hold a dialog, it must contact the local government, including the provincial governments, regencies or cities,” he suggested. The Minister confirmed that some GAM members were based in foreign countries. However, he said the government has never held formal dialogs with these groups. (Dara Meutia Uning - Tempo News Room)