Aceh rebels exploit tsunami tragedy<\/p>\n
Kirsten E. Schulze, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore<\/p>\n
When the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) called a unilateral
\nceasefire following the tsunami disaster, hopes were raised that
\nthis humanitarian disaster might lead to an end to the separatist
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it looks like talks on a temporary cessation of
\nhostilities between Indonesia and GAM in order to facilitate the
\nrelief efforts may be on the cards.<\/p>\n
This does not, however, mean that reconciliation is imminent
\nas GAM has not changed its goal of an independent Aceh. Instead,
\nthe separatists have incorporated Aceh's tragedy and the
\nceasefire into their strategy to gain international support.<\/p>\n
In the eyes of GAM, the humanitarian disaster provides an
\nunprecedented opportunity. Never before have so many foreigners
\nbeen on the ground in Aceh and never before has Aceh had such
\nworld attention. Not surprisingly, GAM quickly incorporated the
\ntsunami into its strategy, at the heart of which is
\ninternationalization of its struggle for independence.<\/p>\n
After GAM's leadership went into exile in 1979, it started to
\nlobby the international community to pressure Indonesia into
\nletting Aceh secede. GAM actively sought support from the United
\nNations, the United States and the European Union as well as non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs). Involvement with the latter
\nbecame so pronounced that the Indonesian government closed Aceh
\nto international NGOs during martial law in 2003.<\/p>\n
Since the tsunami, GAM has issued statement after statement
\ncondemning Indonesian relief efforts, accusing the Indonesian
\ngovernment of deliberately delaying aid and the Indonesian
\nmilitary (TNI) of hindering its distribution. It has called for
\nthe withdrawal of Indonesian forces and international
\nintervention.<\/p>\n
GAM guerrillas on the ground have also become more active.
\nDuring the first week after the tsunami, they intercepted an aid
\nconvoy trying to make its way to Meulaboh. The guerrillas emptied
\nthe trucks of all their goods. Over the last week, there have
\nbeen reports of clashes between GAM and the Indonesian security
\nforces. Aid agencies now fear for the safety of their workers.<\/p>\n
While GAM has no interest in attacking foreigners in Aceh, the
\nseparatists are trying to provoke the TNI into an overreaction in
\norder to draw further international attention to their struggle
\nfor independence. They are also exploiting the fact that two-
\nthirds of the Indonesian troops deployed across Aceh are now
\nfocused on the relief efforts and that the security forces in
\nMeulaboh and Banda Aceh were badly hit.<\/p>\n
In addition, GAM rebels have used the general confusion around
\nthe disaster-stricken areas to come down from the mountains into
\nwhich they had been pushed over the previous year of counter-
\ninsurgency operations. Guerrillas have seized the chance to
\nreplenish their depleted weapons with guns taken from the dead
\nbodies of police and soldiers as well as from damaged arsenals.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, in light of its strategy of
\ninternationalization, GAM has started to mingle with the
\ndisplaced persons, trying to gain the ear of the numerous
\ninternational NGOs. This poses the greatest risk to the relief
\nefforts as international NGOs could be drawn into a dangerous
\npolitical game. Already, international human rights organizations
\nhave started echoing GAM's condemnations of the Indonesian
\ngovernment and military. It would be nothing but disastrous if
\nwell-intended international NGOs on the ground in Aceh followed
\nsuit.<\/p>\n
In the worst-case scenario this could again lead to the
\nclosure of Aceh to foreign organizations.<\/p>\n
Already ultra-nationalists in the Indonesian military stated
\nthat foreign military contingents should be out of Aceh by the
\nend of March.<\/p>\n
The international community should beware of falling into
\nGAM's trap. GAM does not represent all of the Acehnese and it
\ncertainly does not represent most of the people hit by the
\ntsunami.<\/p>\n
Although one often gets the impression from media reports that
\nonly the Indonesian army has committed human rights violations in
\nAceh, since 1976 GAM has been responsible for the burning of
\nschools, killing of teachers, destruction of local government
\noffices and clinics, kidnapping of civil servants, murder of
\njudges, attacks on the energy infrastructure, ethnic cleansing of
\nJavanese migrants and wholesale extortion and intimidation of the
\nAcehnese people.<\/p>\n
It is crucial not to let GAM drive a wedge between the
\ninternational community and the Indonesian government. Such a
\nrift would not only play into GAM's hands but also into the hands
\nof militant Islamists who oppose the Western presence in Aceh and
\nultra-nationalists who are suspicious of foreign intentions.<\/p>\n
Above all it would hurt the Acehnese people.<\/p>\n
Dr Kirsten E. Schulze, a senior lecturer at the London School
\nof Economics, has just returned from Aceh. She is the author of
\nThe Free Aceh Movement (GAM): Anatomy Of A Separatist
\nOrganization.<\/p>",
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