Caning and GAM<\/p>\n
Reading the article titled Caning comes into effect in Aceh on
\n1st day of Ramadhan (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 28), I wonder whether
\nformer president Abdurrahman Wahid was fully aware of all the
\npossible consequences when in December 2000 he offered Aceh the
\nimplementation of sharia, or Islamic law in order to reduce
\ndemands for independence.<\/p>\n
The head of the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA),
\nMuhammad Nazar, response to the president's offer was short and
\nclear: \"Wahid doesn't need to declare Islamic law because it's
\nnot what the Acehnese are asking for. Because nearly 100 percent
\nof the people there are Muslims who have already implemented the
\nreligious rules in principle.\" (The Observer, Dec. 15, 2000).<\/p>\n
The government obviously ignored the fact that the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM)'s fight for independence has never depended solely
\non an Islamic agenda. What GAM really wants is unlimited access
\nto the province's wealth. Therefore, they will never agree with
\nthe special autonomy law, which gives them only more of the
\nprovince's oil and gas revenue. To achieve their goals, GAM needs
\nnot only more support from the Acehnese people but also more
\nsympathy from the international community.<\/p>\n
If caning as punishment comes into effect in Aceh, GAM only
\nstands to gain. First, a poor \"sinner\" who has suffered the
\nphysical and psychical pain of public caning might afterward well
\nbe ready to link up with GAM. Second, so far the international
\ncommunity has hardly given any support to the GAM rebels. But
\nthis might change after the first canings have been executed;
\nespecially considering the nature of the \"crime\".<\/p>\n
It must be feared that the Aceh Ulema Consultative Assembly
\n(MPU) will soon propose stoning, beheading and amputation of
\nlimbs, as such draconic punishments are in accordance with
\nsharia law. And if this should happen, I predict that the
\ninternational community will no longer consider GAM to be rebels
\nbut rather freedom fighters, a development which would certainly
\nnot be in the interest of the government's fight for a united
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
In context with the introduction of caning in Aceh, I cannot
\nhelp but recall People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien
\nRais' warning that Malaysia should not play with fire by caning
\nillegal Indonesian workers. He said that Malaysian authorities
\nwere caning Indonesians like cows and goats, and called it
\n\"inhumane\". For once I couldn't agree more with Pak Amien.<\/p>\n
HILDE MAY, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/caning-and-gam-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }