GAM leaders' arrest
\nand the Acehnese<\/p>\n
From Gatra<\/p>\n
In 2001, the Indonesian government asked Sweden to deal with
\nits citizens causing destruction in Indonesian territory. Sweden
\nat first declined the request, but after evidence was supplied in
\nJune last year, it acknowledged the deeds of Hasan Tiro and his
\ngroup in Aceh.<\/p>\n
On June 15 the Stockholm district prosecutor's office arrested
\nthree leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) -- Hasan Tiro,
\nZaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmud -- and declared them suspects on
\ncharges of serious violations of international law, though the
\nthree were later released.<\/p>\n
GAM has for decades considered the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nan enemy to be fought, while the TNI has seen GAM as a separatist
\nand rebel group threatening the sovereignty of the unitary state
\nof Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Thousands of ordinary people have been killed by GAM in the
\nAceh conflict and the movement's leaders are foreign citizens:
\nHasan Tiro and Zaini Abdullah are Swedish citizens and Malik
\nMahmud possesses a passport from Singapore. The Aceh war has thus
\nbeen controlled by foreigners.<\/p>\n
The arrest and conviction of the GAM rebel chiefs would be
\nmeaningful if seen as part of the efforts to improve the lives of
\nthe Acehnese. Law enforcement, humanitarian operations and
\neconomic programs should therefore play more prominent roles in
\nAceh than military campaigns.<\/p>\n
Tiro and his accomplices should be immediately brought to
\ncourt to let the world learn what they have done to Aceh, while
\nGAM should be listed as a banned separatist organization so that
\nthe Acehnese will have the courage to resist its moves.<\/p>\n
IFUL SAMEY
\nBogor, West Java<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-leaders-arrest-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}