Aceh rebels offer cease-fire to TNI<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Separatist rebels grouped in the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) in this restive province have said they will
\naccept a cease-fire if Indonesian security forces call off their
\ncampaign to crush the resistance movement.<\/p>\n
GAM Commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie said on Sunday he
\nwanted the Indonesian Military (TNI) to publicly announce its
\nwillingness to suspend further operations.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready for a cease-fire if Adm. Widodo makes the same
\nstatement,\" rebel leader Abdullah told Serambi Indonesia
\njournalists, referring to TNI Commander Adm. Widodo Adisucipto.<\/p>\n
He said future negotiations for a peaceful end to the 25-year-
\nlong conflict in Aceh should be carried out under sanctions of an
\ninternational organization, such as the United Nations.<\/p>\n
\"The order to establish a truce must come from the highest
\nlevel in TNI command. If it comes from other officers, commanders
\nin the field will back down on the commitment,\" Abdullah said.<\/p>\n
It was Abdullah's first statement regarding a cease-fire since
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid indicated his willingness to
\nnegotiate with the separatist rebels.<\/p>\n
Students, civilian militia Thaliban and the local Indonesian
\nUlemas Council have continuously campaigned for a cease-fire due
\nto the increasing death toll.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting for independence since 1976.<\/p>\n
During the 10 year military operation to quell rebels, which
\nwas scrapped in 1998, about 1,000 people died while hundreds
\nbecame widows and orphans.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman has repeatedly offered wide-ranging
\nautonomy, not independence, to Aceh as a settlement to the long
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
He has also suggested a ballot be held in Aceh to ask whether
\nIslamic law should be introduced in the predominantly Muslim
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who finally set foot in Aceh as President last
\nweek, predicted that he could resolve the dispute through a
\ndialog by the end of March.<\/p>\n
Over the past few weeks, security forces in Aceh have
\nintensified as antirebel operations aimed to catch Abdullah and
\nhis followers. GAM also launched counterattacks, including last
\nweek's killing of six Marine officers in Ujoeng Blang village in
\nBireun.<\/p>\n
The outbreak of violence has so far claimed 111 lives over the
\nfirst month of the year, 10 of which were rebels, 18
\nmilitary\/police personnel and the rest were civilians.<\/p>\n
Teuku Umar Military chief Col. Syarifuddin Tippe said more
\nthan 1,000 Aceh rebels have surrendered to security forces during
\nthis past month, including three rebel leaders identified as Said
\nSyarif, the Sagoe Beutong commander; Sayed Zulkarnain, Sagoe
\nBlang Mulieng chief and Sayed Bustami, the Sagoe Blang Ara chief.<\/p>\n
In response to Abdullah's offer, Lilawangsa Military Commander
\nCol. Syafnil Armen said the military had proposed a cease-fire
\nsince last year. \"We can still have a dialog,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But if they (GAM) want a cease-fire, they'd better put down
\ntheir weapons and surrender them to the security authorities
\nfirst,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Syarifuddin also said several GAM strongholds were weakened
\nfollowing intensive raids and operations in villages as well as
\njungles and valleys. Witnesses, however, said the operations
\nkilled civilians. (50\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-rebels-offer-cease-fire-to-tni-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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