TWO incidents that happened almost simultaneously give us reason to be grateful: the release of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) hostages and the change from a military to a civil state of emergency in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Whatever happens, the two incidents are like a ray of hope after negotiations between the two sides had reached a dead end.

Although it proceeded in fits and starts, and led to a moment of tension right at the end, the e