GAM ready to hand in, destroy weapons<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Pidie<\/p>\n
In line with the peace deal earlier signed by the Indonesian
\ngovernment and Free Aceh Movement (GAM), GAM members have begun
\ngathering weapons and have said they are ready to hand them over
\nto the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM).<\/p>\n
GAM in Pidie, for example, say that they have gathered 30
\npercent of their weapons at an undisclosed location in Pidie
\nregency and will hand them over on Sept. 15 as required under the
\npeace deal.<\/p>\n
Pidie regency is one of the areas where weapons will be handed
\nover, along with Banda Aceh, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, Meulaboh,
\nLangsa and Tapak Tuan, between Sept. 15 and Sept. 17.<\/p>\n
\"The weapons have been collected at a GAM base,\" said Suadi
\nSulaiman, a GAM leader in Pidie.<\/p>\n
GAM members are now waiting for an order from GAM Commander
\nMuzakkir Manaf to actually decommission the weapons, which is
\nwidely seen as crucial to the success of the peace deal.<\/p>\n
Although they still deeply mistrust the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI), Suadi and his men have already come out of the jungle and
\nrejoined the community.<\/p>\n
When in the towns and villages, the former guerrillas do not
\ncarry weapons, although these are still kept at a secret
\nlocation.<\/p>\n
According to the terms of the peace deal, at least 840 rifles
\nbelonging to GAM are to be destroyed, while in return the TNI
\nwill pull some of its forces out of Aceh. Weapons decommission
\nmay be carried out employing two methods. First, the weapons may
\nbe surrendered at locations designated either by GAM or the AMM,
\nwhile second, GAM members may surrender weapons individually to
\nthe AMM or Indonesian authorities. Some GAM members have already
\nopted for the second method. Since the peace deal was signed on
\nAug. 15, 19 GAM members have handed over five rifles to the
\nIndonesian authorities in Central and South Aceh regencies.<\/p>\n
The weapons included Russian-made AK-47s and U.S.-made M-16-
\nA1s.<\/p>\n
Suadi said that he was delighted with the peace deal between
\nIndonesia and GAM.<\/p>\n
\"Although we are no longer at war, GAM members in Pidie will
\nstill keep in touch,\" said Suadi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Nasir, a GAM member, said that it was difficult for
\nhim to give up his weapon. \"I have surrendered my rifle. This is
\nthe first time in a long time that I have been separated from
\nit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Although nervous about giving up the firearm, he said he hoped
\nthe peace deal would lead to lasting peace, ending three decades
\nof bloody conflict in Aceh. \"If real peace is achieved, people
\nwill no longer have to suffer the consequences of war,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-ready-to-hand-in-destroy-weapons-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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