GAM takes nine female students hostage<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has once again taken
\nfemale students hostage, this time at least nine, for allegedly
\nconsorting with government troops.<\/p>\n
Aceh police spokesman Comr. Suparwoto said on Wednesday that
\nthe girls were kidnaped by GAM members at Idi Cut village in East
\nAceh regency on their way home from school.<\/p>\n
GAM spokesman Ishak Daud confirmed on Wednesday that the armed
\nrebel group had detained the nine female students because of
\ntheir "close relationships" with government troops.<\/p>\n
The nine have been identified as Khatijah, Halimah, Yusdiana,
\nUlidiana, Rosnidar, Marliah, Nursida, Halimatusakdiyah and
\nYusnidar.<\/p>\n
The students, comprising eight senior high school students and
\none university student, were reported to have gone missing on
\nSaturday, but Ishak Daud said GAM kidnapped the students on
\nThursday and Friday at the request of their parents.<\/p>\n
"We have information that the nine students were taken as
\nhostages by GAM's inong balee (female troops)," Suparwoto was
\nquoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Ishak told AFP that the nine had initially been released but
\nwere later detained again after their parents had asked they be
\ngiven "further training" by GAM.<\/p>\n
He said there was no immediate plan to free the nine, but
\nadded that they were being "treated properly and were in good
\ncondition."<\/p>\n
GAM was also searching for three women who had been
\nencouraging students to consort with government troops stationed
\nin the staunchly Muslim province, Ishak said.<\/p>\n
A few months ago, GAM members kidnapped nine high school
\nstudents, also in East Aceh, whom they accused of spying for the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police.<\/p>\n
All the students were later released after having been held
\nhostage for a few months.<\/p>\n
The violence in the troubled province has been raging on
\ndespite an agreement achieved at peace talks last week in Geneva,
\nSwitzerland, to work towards a cease-fire.<\/p>\n
During the two-day peace talks, GAM and government negotiators
\ncommitted themselves to work "with all speed" towards a cease-
\nfire to pave the way for democratic elections in Aceh.<\/p>\n
GAM also accepted special autonomy for Aceh as a starting
\npoint for the holding of an all-inclusive dialog, which would
\ninvolve all elements of Acehnese society under the sponsorship of
\nthe Henry Dunant Center.<\/p>\n
The dialog is scheduled to take place between now and 2003 in
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
However, the Indonesian government's chief negotiator Wiryono
\nSastrohandoyo stressed that any further dialog could only succeed
\nin a stable and peaceful atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Under the special autonomy first granted in January 2001, Aceh
\nis allowed to partially implement syariah (Islamic law) and
\nretain a much greater share of its oil and gas revenues.<\/p>\n
The two sides had agreed on truces during successive meetings
\nin Switzerland arranged by the Henry Dunant Center since 2000.
\nBut the cease-fires have rarely held.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting since 1976 to establish an independent
\nstate in the province on Sumatra island. More than 10,000 people,
\nmostly civilians, have died in the conflict, including over 500
\nthis year alone.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-takes-nine-female-students-hostage-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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