Ex-rebels disband armed wing<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana and Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) announced the dissolution of its
\nmilitary wing here on Tuesday in another move to achieve long-
\nlasting peace in the tsunami-ravaged province.<\/p>\n
\"On behalf of GAM combatants, I have the honor to announce
\nthat TNA (Aceh National Military) is now demobilized or
\ndisbanded,\" TNA chief Muzakkir Manaf said in a statement read out
\nby GAM spokesman Sofyan Dawood in a news conference. Muzakkir was
\nseen at the event.<\/p>\n
\"We are committed to implementing the memorandum of
\nunderstanding (the peace pact) and will comply with its
\ncontents,\" the statement added.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made after GAM representatives met with
\nvisiting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the Aceh
\nprovincial capital of Banda Aceh, where he led a solemn ceremony
\nto commemorate one year since the devastating tsunami.<\/p>\n
The dissolution paves the way for GAM to transform itself into
\na political party that is expected to contest a direct
\ngubernatorial election in Aceh scheduled for April.<\/p>\n
GAM said it is now preparing to enter a political era in Aceh
\nby establishing a political party.<\/p>\n
The move also comes after the former rebels handed over all
\nits 840 qualified firearms as required by the Aug. 15 peace
\naccord signed by the government and GAM in Helsinki, Finland.<\/p>\n
With the disbandment, GAM troops have now become a part of the
\ncivil community. In order to achieve long-lasting peace in Aceh,
\nthe former rebels have established the Aceh Transitional
\nCommittee (KPA) led by Muzakkir.<\/p>\n
\"The committee will facilitate former GAM combatants in
\nentering the civilian life,\" said Irwandy Yusuf, a GAM
\nrepresentative to the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM).<\/p>\n
The committee is tasked with keeping GAM members disciplined
\nand under control so as to ensure the peace deal would be kept
\nintact.<\/p>\n
Irwandy also said GAM itself would still exist and would be
\ndisbanded only after \"all articles in the Helsinki peace deal
\nhave been implemented\" by both sides.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's news conference was also attended by AMM members. No
\ngovernment or military officials were present.<\/p>\n
During the event, GAM also demanded that the presence of the
\ninternational peace monitors be extended. The AMM is scheduled to
\nend its term in Aceh on March 15. However, the government has
\nhinted at allowing the foreign monitors to stay until July 1.<\/p>\n
\"We would like AMM to extend their mission to monitor all of
\nthe stages of the MOU. We are entering a political process, which
\nis tricky and difficult,\" Irwandy said.<\/p>\n
AMM comprises about 240 observers from the European Union and
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
After holding a meeting with GAM representatives including
\nBachtiar Abdullah who returned in October after living in exile
\nin Sweden, and GAM ex-commander of Aceh Besar district Teuku
\nMukhsalmina, President Susilo said the men were sincere in
\nwanting to end a conflict, which has claimed some 15,000 lives.<\/p>\n
\"I see there is sincerity to end the conflict. I talked to
\nthem briefly, one by one. We have to safeguard this process,\" he
\nwas quoted by AFP as saying of the newfound peace in Aceh. Peace
\ndeals have been brokered in the past, but later collapsed.<\/p>\n
The government still has to pass legislation that incorporates
\nthe peace pact, while GAM faces the difficult task of
\ntransforming itself into a political rather than fighting entity.<\/p>\n
In a speech marking the tsunami observance on Monday, Susilo
\nsaid the disaster created a \"golden opportunity\" to end the 29-
\nyear conflict and suggested that the peace deal was \"an example
\nof how a new hope for peace can emerge out of the ruin of
\ndestruction.\"<\/p>\n
Peace talks opened in January and were successfully wrapped up
\nin July. The rebels ceased their demand for an independent state
\nof Aceh, while the government promised them broad autonomy and
\nwould allow them to take part in regional elections.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-rebels-disband-armed-wing-1447893297",
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