GAM to comply with disarmament<\/p>\n
Ibnu Matnoor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\npledged on Saturday to uphold the cease-fire agreement as the
\npeace process in the province starts a promising new phase on
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
The peace agreement signed on Dec. 9 last year in Geneva
\nstipulates a phase of demilitarization, in which GAM will begin
\nto lay down arms at designated sites beginning on Sunday, while
\nthe TNI troops will move back to their barracks. This stage is
\nexpected to last five months.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready to keep our weapons at places monitored by the
\nHenry Dunant Centre provided that the TNI and Mobile Brigade
\n(Brimob) police stop attacking us and withdraw their troops to
\nofficial bases. We don't want to be fooled by the Indonesians
\nagain,\" GAM spokesman Tengku Sofyan Dawood said, referring to a
\nseries of broken promises by Jakarta dating back to the 1950s.<\/p>\n
Successful demilitarization, which follows the current two-
\nmonth confidence building stage, will lead to reconstruction of
\nthe natural resource-rich region, which has been wrecked by
\nalmost three decades of war. The World Bank, and others have
\npledged financial aid for the program, which covers both economic
\nand social rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
The first of several demilitarized peace zones, Indrapuri, was
\nestablished on Jan. 26, marking the start of the demilitarization
\nperiod. Also on Sunday, eight new peace zones will be declared.
\nBoth sides hope to have similar areas in all 20 regencies and
\nmayoralties.<\/p>\n
Both GAM and TNI are banned from carrying weapons in peace
\nzones.<\/p>\n
The TNI, meanwhile, promised it would do its part to maintain
\npeace by refraining from any attacks on GAM.<\/p>\n
\"We will honor the peace deal, in which we cannot search for
\nthe arms laid down by GAM,\" local military spokesman Lt. Col.
\nFirdaus Komarno avowed.<\/p>\n
However, Firdaus, quickly insisted that there would be no
\nwithdrawal of troops to official bases, unless there was a direct
\norder from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is that we will not launch attacks
\non GAM. We don't think the presence of security posts outside
\nofficial bases is a big deal,\" he said, referring to the dozens
\nof TNI posts throughout the province, that will have to be
\nabandoned.<\/p>\n
Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) director Martin Griffiths arrived in
\nBanda Aceh on Saturday to observe the preparations for the
\ndemilitarization of the province.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the people will not dramatize the demilitarization
\ntomorrow (Sunday) as it is only an initial part of the program,\"
\nGriffiths said upon his arrival at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport.<\/p>\n
He noted, however, that despite the favorable climate in Aceh
\nfollowing the signing of the peace deal, extortion and other
\ncrimes were still rampant in Indonesia's westernmost province.<\/p>\n
\"The council has been trying to combat the crimes,\" he said in
\na reference to the tripartite Joint Security Committee (JSC)
\nconsisting of GAM, TNI and HDC representatives.<\/p>\n
The pledge to uphold peace was marred, however by the
\ndiscovery on Friday of two dead civilians. The two men shot dead
\nwere identified as Nawi Amin, an employee at a state fertilizer
\ncompany, and Mukhlis Andia, a resident of Durian Rampak Susoh
\nvillage in South Aceh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gam-to-comply-with-disarmament-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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