GAM aborts planned release of Aceh legislator<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) decided early this week to cancel
\nthe release of Acehnese legislator Ghazali Usman, held captive by
\nthe group for three months, due to the East Aceh regent's failure
\nto be present to collect Ghazali at a location specified by GAM.<\/p>\n
Abu Isnandar, spokesman for the GAM-affiliated Atjeh-Sumatra
\nNational Liberation Front (ASNLF), said ASNLF regretted that
\nGhazali could not be released to the East Aceh administration.<\/p>\n
\"The release was planned for humanitarian reasons, especially
\nbecause Ghazali is in a serious condition that makes it
\nimpossible for his continued arrest and an investigation into his
\ncase has already been completed,\" he said in a press release sent
\nto The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He added that the decision to release Ghazali was made after
\nhe expressed his remorse for involvement with the local military
\nin the killing of seven employees of palm oil plantation company
\nPT Bumi Flora in Idi Rayeuk, and pledged not to do anything
\nhostile toward Acehnese people in the future.<\/p>\n
Abu, however, said ASNLF would seek another opportunity at
\nsome time in the immediate future to release \"the detainee\".<\/p>\n
Ghazali, a legislator of the East Aceh chapter of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN), has been allowed to be accompanied by his
\nwife since his health deteriorated.<\/p>\n
So far, the murder case, which is still being investigated by
\nthe National Commission for Human Rights, has been left
\nunresolved, while both GAM and the military in Aceh have denied
\ntheir involvement in the incident.<\/p>\n
Abu said Ghazali had been detained at a secret location in
\nPerlak subdistrict and undergone a thorough investigation by
\nASNLF's police after being charged with plotting with local
\nsecurity authorities to commit the murder.<\/p>\n
He asserted Ghazali's arrest was not against international
\nhumanitarian law because the defendant was proven guilty of
\nsowing hostility against Acehnese people and of plotting with the
\nmilitary to commit the human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, Ghazali has lost his civilian immunity and has
\nbeen treated as a war criminal. But, he has been given amnesty,\"
\nAbu said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-aborts-planned-release-of-aceh-legislator-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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