Death threats prevent former rebels from returning home<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
Dailami, 31, could not hide the sadness on his face during the
\nconclusion of the third phase of the rehabilitation program for
\nformer Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM) members.<\/p>\n
He was one of 340 former Aceh Separatist Movement (GSA) rebels
\nat the Education Excellence Institute (LPMP) in Ladong, Aceh
\nBesar, who were being released after undergoing a guidance
\nprogram for three months. "I'm very touched and relieved,"
\nDailami, the former GAM governor of Linge territory, told The
\nJakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
He recounted that the situation in Aceh had forced him to
\nbecome a governor of the separatist movement.<\/p>\n
At the end of 2000, Dailami started a farm in Central Aceh. As
\nthe location was frequently traversed by armed rebels, he claimed
\nthat he eventually joined the movement for the sake of safety. He
\nwas later appointed as the governor of the Linge area.<\/p>\n
Besides Dailami, 1,681 other ex-rebels have been drilled at
\nthe LPMP institute in Ladong. The rebels, along with their
\nsympathizers, received guidance on nationalism and Islamic
\nstudies, and acquired training in auto repair, agriculture,
\nanimal husbandry, tailoring and farming.<\/p>\n
Dailami had good reason to feel satisfied, with his wife and
\ntwo children expecting him, and a handout of Rp 2.5 million
\n(US$280.00) from the government as starting capital to raise
\nchickens.<\/p>\n
He had previously lived in fear and constant anxiety. He moved
\nfrom one forest to another during the first three months of
\nthe martial law period in Aceh. He surrendered to the authorities
\nfor two reasons: he was scared, and he was hungry.<\/p>\n
The only things that Dailami wished for after undergoing the
\nrehabilitation program was to live in peace, and to not return to
\nCentral Aceh where he still owns a piece of farmland.<\/p>\n
Other former GAM members and their compatriots have their own
\nplans for starting a new life. Most of them have opted not to
\nreturn to their villages for safety reasons.<\/p>\n
Four ex-rebels, for instance, have pooled their Rp 2.5 million
\nin funds to open an auto workshop in North Aceh. They were part
\nof the first batch of former rebels rehabilitated at the
\ninstitute in Reuleut, North Aceh.<\/p>\n
"We don't dare return to our villages, so we'll just set up
\nbusiness in the town area," said 25-year-old Muhammad.<\/p>\n
A junior high school graduate, Verawati, was of the same
\nopinion. She surrendered to Indonesian military forces because
\nshe felt guilty after being trained in marching by GAM forces.<\/p>\n
After going through the program, she decided to live in Bireun
\nand open a tailor shop. She had vowed not to return to her
\nvillage of Mee in Peudada district.<\/p>\n
"There are still many GAM rebels in my village," she said
\nsmiling.<\/p>\n
There is no guarantee that the situation in their places of
\norigin is safe, even though security personnel have given their
\nword to protect them.<\/p>\n
Based on media reports, more than 10 GAM rebels, who had
\ncompleted the government rehabilitation programs and gone home,
\nwere later found shot dead during the civil emergency period.<\/p>\n
It is therefore understandable that the former GAM members and
\ntheir sympathizers are reluctant to return to their home
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
The government launched major offensive attacks against GAM in
\nMay last year, which was followed by the imposition of martial
\nlaw in the war-torn province.<\/p>\n
Martial law status was lifted in May this year, after
\nimprovements in the security situation there.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/death-threats-prevent-former-rebels-from-returning-home-1447893297",
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