GAM celebrates anniversary with prayers for peace<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) marked its 29th anniversary quietly
\non Sunday by holding prayers at mosques across Aceh province.<\/p>\n
"We're just expressing our gratitude that peace is being
\nupheld in Aceh," the GAM commander in Aceh Besar regency,
\nMuharram, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Prayers in Aceh Besar were held in Lhok Nga district, where
\nformer GAM insurgents gathered at the Lampuuk mosque, which
\nescaped the Dec. 26, 2005, tsunami.<\/p>\n
Lampisang and other areas of the regency also organized
\nsimilar events.<\/p>\n
Besides the former GAM members, Acehnese civilians also
\ngathered to celebrate the anniversary.<\/p>\n
The celebrations this year were in marked contrast to
\nprevious anniversaries before GAM and the government signed a
\npeace accord on Aug. 15 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Past
\ncelebrations were always marked by major troop deployments and
\ndonations to orphans' charities.<\/p>\n
This year GAM scrapped all forms of celebration to avoid any
\npossibility of provocation from those bent on destroying the
\npeace.<\/p>\n
The decision was taken during a recent meeting of GAM leaders,
\nincluding Teungku Muhammad Usman Lampoh Awe and the commander of
\nthe group's armed wing, Muzakkir Manaf. Earlier, the government
\nand the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) warned GAM against overtly
\ncelebrating its anniversary in order to safeguard the peace.<\/p>\n
"I have ordered all GAM members not to hoist the GAM flag or
\nany other attributes as we will only have mass prayers for peace.
\nWe will not take any responsibility for flag-hoisting or the
\ndisplay of other GAM attributes," Muharram said.<\/p>\n
Aside from Aceh Besar, prayers meetings were also held in
\nNorth Aceh and Bireuen, as well as Peureulak, where traditional
\nfeasts were held for orphans.<\/p>\n
The government praised the former separatist group for
\nrefraining from overtly celebrating its anniversary.<\/p>\n
"I have to extend my full appreciation as they remain
\ncommitted to their obligations and committed to the peace process
\nitself," Maj. Gen. Bambang Darmono, a government representative
\non the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), told Jakarta's Elshinta
\nradio.<\/p>\n
Bambang added that celebrations celebrating or eulogizing the
\nconflict would run counter to the peace accord.<\/p>\n
Local police and military officers said that the province
\nremained calm on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Aceh Police chief Insp. Gen. Bahrumsyah Kasman told AFP that
\nhe had seen no signs of anniversary celebrations by GAM during a
\nhelicopter tour around Aceh on Sunday.<\/p>\n
"Everything is normal, and, as far as we can see, there are no
\ncommemorative events being held to mark the anniversary," said a
\na military spokesman in Aceh, Eri Sutiko.<\/p>\n
In the Aug. 15 peace accord, GAM dropped its demand for
\nindependence in return for wide-ranging autonomy in the province,
\nwhich has a population of four million.<\/p>\n
The peace accord was prompted by the disastrous tsunami that
\nleft over 200,000 Acehnese dead or missing.<\/p>\n
Observers said that the peace pact was the best chance yet of
\nending the 29-year long separatist conflict, which has claimed
\nabout 15,000 lives, most of them civilians, since GAM began its
\nstruggle for an independent state in 1976.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-celebrates-anniversary-with-prayers-for-peace-1447893297",
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