AGAM chief calls for world attention on Aceh<\/p>\n
SIGLI, Aceh (JP): Tengku Abdulah Syafi'i, the commander of
\nAngkatan Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (AGAM), the armed wing of the
\nseparatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), has said all Acehnese
\nsupport a separate state and it is therefore not important which
\ngroup they join to further the cause.<\/p>\n
In an interview with The Jakarta Post on Monday at his hideout
\nin a forest in Pidie regency, Syafi'i said there was a diverse
\nrange of people involved in self-determination efforts, despite
\nthe reported deployment of 32,000 security personnel so far,
\nincluding the 7,000 reinforcement, to hunt down an estimated 200
\nrebel leaders.<\/p>\n
"With the prayers of the people willing to be martyrs and the
\nwhole Acehnese people, they (the security personnel) will become
\nphang po (local dialect which means 'to flee in confusion')," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The following is an excerpt of the interview.<\/p>\n
Question: Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief General Wiranto has
\nvowed not to let civilians take up arms in Aceh. What do you
\nthink?<\/p>\n
Answer: We do not have anything to do with the colonialists.
\nWhy did they threaten us? It's them who should leave Aceh.<\/p>\n
Q: The military has been sending troop reinforcements here.<\/p>\n
A: We know there are not only tens of thousands (of personnel),
\nbut the Aceh soil has never been free from the TNI. They want to
\nslaughter the Acehnese. They said they wanted to eliminate armed
\ncivilians. But in reality many civilians have been massacred, the
\nlast incident being (the July 23 military shooting) in Beutong
\nAteuh (where 52 people were killed).<\/p>\n
With this glaring evidence (of violence), would the
\ninternational world still trust TNI? They are the criminals of
\nwar.<\/p>\n
With the prayers of those (willing to be) martyrs and the
\nwhole Acehnese, they will become phang po.<\/p>\n
How do we wage our war? That is up to us. What's important is
\nthat TNI must pull out of Aceh. No matter what, the Acehnese want
\nto be free. Whatever the risks are, we are willing to face them
\nand we will never retreat.<\/p>\n
In our fight, we are not looking for fame. If we die, we
\nbecome syahid (martyrs). Remember that!<\/p>\n
Syafi'i also described the atrocities allegedly committed by
\nmilitary personnel not only during the military operations
\nbetween 1989 to 1998, but up to the present day. "They rape, they
\nkill... they plunder the belongings of the Acehnese," he said.
\n"They have been running from the realities (of the atrocities)
\nand refused to take responsibility.<\/p>\n
"The TNI are like the devils (and yet) we pray that they be
\ngiven (divine) guidance."<\/p>\n
Wiranto had earlier insisted that only atrocities allegedly
\ncommitted by the military after President B.J. Habibie took over
\nthe presidency in May 1998 can be investigated. Habibie, however,
\nrecently issued a decree to establish an independent team on
\nAceh. He however, did not specify the period of time to be
\ninvestigated.<\/p>\n
"Why is the international world still so silent? Do they see
\nAcehnese as subhuman? Please do not abandon us," Syafi'i said.<\/p>\n
Q: What is the relation between AGAM and Tengku Bantaqiah (a
\nformer political prisoner and Muslim cleric shot dead together
\nwith his students in Beutong Ateuh)?<\/p>\n
A: We did not have any ties whatsoever. But he was a respected
\nand influential ulema.<\/p>\n
Q: Did he fight for AGAM too?<\/p>\n
A: All Acehnese want liberation and it's not necessary that they
\nbe placed in groups (of separatists). All Acehnese have the
\nobligation to fight for freedom.<\/p>\n
We in AGAM wish to convey our deepest condolence over the
\npassing of an influential Aceh ulema. Especially because dozens
\nof innocent people were also massacred ... the international
\nworld should not turn a blind eye to this tragedy.<\/p>\n
Q: What government measures do you hope for the Aceh question?<\/p>\n
A: We do not have any ties whatsoever with war criminals. We just
\nhope that the international world, especially the Netherlands
\nwhich surrendered Aceh (in the past) to the colonial powers of
\nIndonesia, will solve the situation and be responsible for the
\nsuffering of the Acehnese. (Tarmilin Usman)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/agam-chief-calls-for-world-attention-on-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}