GAM accuses Jakarta of declaring war<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Separatist rebels in Aceh have criticized Indonesia's decision
\nto extend military operations there as a \"declaration of war,\"
\nfurther clouding the prospects for peace in the troubled
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Top security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday
\nannounced the extension of military operations for six months in
\nthe energy-rich province on the north of Sumatra island.<\/p>\n
It is part of a five-point presidential decree authorizing
\ncontinued operations by the army -- among other measures -- that
\nwill take effect for six months after the old decree expires next
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The decision is \"undeniable proof that the government has once
\nagain surrendered to military (armed forces) pressure\", said
\nSofyan Daud, the military spokesman of the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM), in a written statement received Friday.<\/p>\n
\"Just as the public breathes a sigh of relief following signs
\nof decreasing violence after dialogues in Geneva, the Indonesian
\ngovernment has once again enforced its bloodthirsty lust.\"<\/p>\n
On Thursday Yudhoyono said \"armed disturbances\" by GAM rebels
\nmust be \"annihilated\" but added that \"appropriate treatment\"
\nwould be given to those who surrender.<\/p>\n
GAM has waged a war for independence since 1976.<\/p>\n
Daud said officials in Jakarta had \"mistakenly calculated
\ntheir adversary because of false reports from military commanders
\nin Aceh suggesting that they are highly successful\".<\/p>\n
He added: \"It is ironic that while the public is hoping that
\nviolence would cease in Aceh ... the government declares war on
\nthe Acehnese people.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesian government representatives and the exiled
\nleadership of GAM met last weekend in Switzerland and \"agreed to
\na period of confidence-building in which they will cease
\nhostilities and then move towards democratic elections in Aceh in
\n2004\".<\/p>\n
But in what rights activists labeled a setback to the peace
\nprocess, Jakarta on Tuesday officially inaugurated a separate
\nmilitary command for Aceh, a unit which was disbanded 17 years
\nago.<\/p>\n
Activists say the revived command will only worsen violence in
\nAceh, where more than 1,700 people were killed last year alone.
\nAlmost 200 people have already died this year.<\/p>\n
Separatist sentiment in Aceh has been strengthened by years of
\nhuman rights abuses by the military and the draining of Aceh's
\nnatural resources.<\/p>\n
Last year Jakarta granted Aceh greater self-rule and a larger
\nshare of the revenue from its substantial oil and gas reserves
\nbut ruled out independence.<\/p>\n
In the latest violence soldiers killed a suspected rebel at
\nSungai Keruk village in eastern Aceh on Thursday, Aceh military
\nspokesman Major Zaenal Muttaqin said, quoted by the state Antara
\nnews agency.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-accuses-jakarta-of-declaring-war-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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