GAM urges general strike to protest military brutality<\/p>\n
Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has called a general
\nstrike starting Jan. 16 in the restive province as a move to
\nprotest (Indonesian) alleged military brutality against
\ncivilians.<\/p>\n
In its announcement, copies of which were distributed to the
\nmedia on Friday, Sofyan Dawod, spokesman for GAM, or Atjeh
\nSumatra National Liberation Front, said that it was GAM Commander
\nTengku Abdullah Syafi'ie who had ordered the mass strike.<\/p>\n
\"The reason for the general strike is the fact that from day
\nto day the (Indonesian) military and police -- as the Indonesian
\ngovernment's tools -- have becoming more brutal against innocent
\ncivilians in Aceh,\" Sofjan said.<\/p>\n
He added that the military\/police arrested civilians and
\nforced them to join their operations before finally killing them.
\n\"Then the dead bodies are found with gunshot wounds or mutilated
\nor burnt.\"<\/p>\n
\"They (military\/police) claim to be upholding the law, but
\nthey arrest civilians and just kill them. Why didn't they bring
\nthem (the civilians) to court if they were suspected of breaking
\nthe law?,\" said Sofjan.<\/p>\n
\"The general strike includes the (temporary) halting of public
\ntransportation and closure of all government offices' services,
\nincluding the gubernatorial office, the offices of regencies,
\ndistrict heads and all ministries offices, Sofjan Dawod said on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
\"Exceptions will be made for hospitals, the Red Cross,
\ndrinking water companies, telecommunications offices and the
\npress.\"<\/p>\n
The military strongly criticized the general strike calls,
\nsaying that GAM was engaging in propaganda.<\/p>\n
\"The strike call is proof that GAM is provoking and
\nintimidating the people of Aceh. We are sure that the people will
\ngo against the move,\" Zaenal told The Jakarta Post by phone from
\nLhokseumawe on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"It's just GAM propaganda when it accuses the military\/police
\nof committing brutality like they did in the past. GAM is now
\ncornered with less and less support from the Acehnese people,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In 1999, parts of Aceh came to a halt from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6
\nfollowing a students' call for a general strike over military
\nbrutality.<\/p>\n
Streets were deserted, while shops, public transportation and
\nbusinesses closed.<\/p>\n
Everyday activities in Aceh were once again brought to a halt
\nafter the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) called a
\ngeneral strike from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16 in 2000.<\/p>\n
While GAM and the military were debating the general strike
\ncall, four unidentified bodies were found in separate places in
\nAceh on Friday and Saturday, humanitarian activist and military
\nsources said. Records kept by the military show 50 people,
\nincluding the latest four, to have been killed in Aceh this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government is insisting on reviving a military
\ncommand in Aceh, arguing that the Acehnese people need this.
\nObservers said that the revival of the military command would
\ntrigger fresh tension.<\/p>",
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