As a peace-loving Malaysian, I am sad to see the subject of war rearing its head o­nce again. And this time it is in our very own neighbour, Aceh.

I read about the artillery attack by the Indonesian army o­n guerrilla targets in Aceh. It takes little intelligence to conclude that innocent o­nes will be sacrificed for the advancement of war. We are being confronted by another contest for humanity.

I recall the Malaysian effort, supported by the government, in setting the special body Malaysians For Peace to protest and intervene in the war o­n Iraq.

What about similar efforts in the face of atrocities right in our region? Youth and Sports Minister Hishamuddin o­nn at an Iraq war protest rally said the body would continue its efforts even after Iraq. So did Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and all the other ministers when they commented o­n the war.

What has happened since? Were the calls for peace just a another political gesture to satisfy the imagination of the people or are we really a country committed to peace and stability?

As a member of Asean and chair of the Non Alliance Movement, Malaysia should intervene in this issue, and provide a forum to settle the Aceh dispute. The time is ripe for Malaysia to assert the importance of peace in the region.

Malaysia also should provide interim assistance to those refuges that might be forced to seek shelter in Malaysia.

I urge the Malaysian government and Malaysians For Peace to give priority to the Aceh issue. It would be sad if we cannot see how this problem in our own region can affect us.

I hope that the old Malay saying kuman di seberang nampak, gajah di depan mata tak nampak will not become reality.