Aceh braces for GAM anniversary<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH (JP): An uneasy calm enveloped much of Aceh on
\nFriday as the province braced itself for the much touted Free
\nAceh Movement's (GAM) anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n
While there were no reports of clashes or unrest on the eve of
\nSaturday's separatist anniversary, President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nissued a strong warning against separatist rebels.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman on his way home from a three-day visit to China,
\nsaid in Beijing that it is \"the right\" and \"privilege\" of the
\npresident \"to do whatever is necessary\" to defend the nation's
\nintegrity.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some people in Aceh attempted to continue with
\ntheir daily lives despite the evident anxiety.<\/p>\n
The main point of contention on Saturday will be whether the
\nIndonesian red-and-white flag will be taken down in Aceh and
\nreplaced with the separatist flag.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military has warned that it will take stern
\nmeasures against such action. Such warnings have prompted GAM
\ncommanders to prevent the flying of the separatist flag by
\ncivilians.<\/p>\n
GAM commander Teuku Abdullah Syafei said the separatist flag
\nshould only be flown at regional GAM commands to avoid an
\noutbreak of violence and bloodshed.<\/p>\n
Local authorities on Friday continued to urge locals to stay
\ncalm and to avoid conflict.<\/p>\n
\"We will adopt a persuasive approach and restrain from taking
\nany repressive moves while monitoring the situation,\" Teuku Umar
\nMilitary Commander Col. Syarifuddin Tippe said.<\/p>\n
One regency which was obviously gripped by fear and expecting
\nthe worst was Pidie.<\/p>\n
Only a few shops were open on Friday while most residents
\ndeclined to leave their homes, especially at night, for fears of
\nfresh clashes between the military and rebels.<\/p>\n
Prices have shot up in the region. \"A Bandeng fish which
\nusually sells for Rp 8,000 is now Rp 16,000. A kilogram of
\ncooking oil has risen from Rp 3,000 to Rp 3,500,\" a housewife
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
More than 70 local and foreign journalists have flocked to
\nmany towns across the province, especially Lhokseumawe and Pidie,
\nin anticipation of what might happen.<\/p>\n
Repressive Force<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Abdurrahman warned on Friday that if
\nseparatists challenge the government then \"we will use repressive
\nforce\".<\/p>\n
The President also acknowledged that he had issued a written
\nstatement which included orders for the military and police to
\nuse force, if necessary, to uphold the law.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman has said that he would support a referendum in
\nAceh, but for the imposition of Islamic law and not for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, People's Consultative
\nAssembly speaker Amien Rais asserted that there was still an
\nopportunity for the nation to solve the Aceh crisis.<\/p>\n
One indication of how difficult the situation will be is if
\npeople decide to tear down the Indonesian flag en masse.<\/p>\n
\"If they only go on the streets to protest then it means that
\nwe still have a good chance to make an arrangement through
\ndialog,\" Amien said after the opening ceremony of the
\nMuhammadiyah Tanwir leadership meeting.<\/p>\n
He said that from a historical point of view, what is
\nhappening in Aceh is similar to separatist movements which
\nerupted throughout the country in the republic's early years.<\/p>\n
Amien called on the Acehnese people to truly consider the
\nimplications of a desire to break away from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Independence is not a good option. It can backfire, as it's
\nnot easy to form a state,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The former chairman of Muhamadiyah shed tears when speaking to
\nhis audience about Aceh, saying that the matter is almost
\nreaching a \"point of no return\".<\/p>\n
He said he was sad at the government's sluggish pace in
\nhandling the Aceh issue.<\/p>\n
Amien warned that Indonesia might experience the same
\nphenomenon as the former Soviet union did after its glastnost
\n(openness) and perestroika (restructurization) movement.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia ought to be careful in pushing its reforms. It's
\nironic that at a time when Europe is united as a center of power,
\nprovinces here want to be apart,\" said Amien.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Jakarta, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
\nTanjung on Friday reasserted that independence was not an option
\nwhich could be accepted by the legislature.<\/p>\n
\"If the House agrees on a referendum, it would offer autonomy
\nor a federal state at the most,\" Akbar said referring to the
\nrecommendations by a special House committee on the issue of
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
The committee on Thursday issued a set of recommendations
\nwhich included a referendum. But it failed to define what the
\nreferendum would be for.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, Javanese transmigrants who returned
\nfrom Aceh about a week ago, claimed that six settlers in Cok
\nGirek, Serauke, in North Aceh were killed by GAM members during a
\ndispute over the transmigration program.<\/p>\n
Two transmigrants, Purnomo and Adi Winardi, said the six were
\nkilled as they were believed to be leaders of Javanese
\ntransmigrants.<\/p>\n
\"GAM members first terrorized them and threatened to kill them
\nif they refused to leave the area,\" Purnomo said.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, a group of 100 students of the
\nIndonesian Muslim Student Association (HMI) in Yogyakarta, staged
\na demonstration in front of the provincial council building. They
\ndemanded the trial of military generals allegedly responsible for
\nthe alleged massive atrocities in Aceh. (43\/44\/50\/51\/har\/sur\/rms\/jun)<\/p>",
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