Acehnese pray for lasting peace accord<\/p>\n
BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Thousands of Acehnese thronged mosques
\nand schools on Friday to pray for the success of a peace accord
\nbeing signed in Geneva between separatist rebels and the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The largest gathering involved over 100,000 people, who were
\nseen attending continuous mass prayers since morning at
\nBaiturrahman Grand Mosque here.<\/p>\n
\"We all hoping this works out. Please don't let the people
\ndown ... I cannot imagine what it would be like if the peace
\naccord fails,\" Iqbal Faraby, chairman of the Aceh branch of the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said.<\/p>\n
In schools throughout Banda Aceh, thousands of children prayed
\nfor an hour starting at 7:30 a.m. for an end to the years of
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Before he left for Switzerland to attend the signing ceremony,
\nAceh governor Syamsuddin Mahmud called for \"quiet and peaceful\"
\nprayers to support the accord.<\/p>\n
Separately, in a rare meeting with journalists, the Aceh Besar
\nregional commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Abu Tazurra,
\nreaffirmed the group's commitment to withdraw forces from the
\nfield and refrain from violence.<\/p>\n
Speaking from a rebel base camp hidden in the mountainous
\nSeulawah area, some 60 kilometers east of Banda Aceh, Tazurra
\nsaid that with the withdrawal GAM forces should no longer be held
\naccountable for any trouble which might erupt.<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that the signing of the accord should not
\nbe seen as a relinquishing of the groups determination for a free
\nstate.<\/p>\n
\"We will keep on fighting for independence, and in the
\nmeantime we wait for further instruction from Wali Negara (Hasan
\nTiro). Don't ever think that our spirit will die,\" Tazurra said.<\/p>\n
\"We want independence but not by sacrificing civilians. This
\npause is a good opportunity to achieve our goal through
\ndiplomatic channels.\"<\/p>\n
\"But we will fight if security forces launch repressive
\nactions toward us,\" Tazurra, wearing military uniform, told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
The situation at the base was calm and normal, with most of
\nthe rebels unarmed. Only after journalist asked to take
\nphotographs did they pull out their guns.(50\/51\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acehnese-pray-for-lasting-peace-accord-1447893297",
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