Govt backs down on plan to list GAM as terror group<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has backed down on its plan to have the Free Aceh
\nMovement (GAM) listed as a terrorist organization by the United
\nNations to avoid turning Aceh into an international issue.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday the government would
\nresolve the Aceh problem in its own way.<\/p>\n
\"We considered the option but we do not want to
\ninternationalize the Aceh issue,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
The government had repeatedly said that GAM could be included
\non the UN list of terrorist organizations because its actions met
\nthe necessary criteria.<\/p>\n
The government has accused GAM rebels of perpetrating a series
\nof terrorist attacks in the country. The courts, however, have
\nyet to rule on GAM involvement in any terrorist act.<\/p>\n
Jakarta submitted an official request for Stockholm to legally
\nprosecute GAM leaders living there, and provided evidence to back
\nup allegations that violent acts committed by GAM members here
\nwere ordered by their leaders in Stockholm.<\/p>\n
Listing GAM as an international terrorist group would oblige
\nUN members around the globe to arrest Acehnese rebel leaders and
\nfreeze their assets. Most GAM leaders, including supreme leader
\nHassan Tiro, reside in Sweden.<\/p>\n
Susilo said Indonesia would continue with its own measures to
\ndeal with GAM rebels, who have been fighting for independence for
\nthe resource-rich province since 1970s. More than 10,000 people,
\nmostly civilians, have been killed since this fight for
\nindependence began.<\/p>\n
The government launched a military operation on May 19 this
\nyear to wipe out the rebels from the country's westernmost
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Six months into the operation, the government has killed
\nabout 1,000 alleged GAM rebels and arrested almost 2,000 others.
\nAbout 35,000 military soldiers and 14,000 police personnel have
\nbeen involved in the operation.<\/p>\n
The government has decided to extend the operation for another
\nsix months.<\/p>\n
Susilo also said the government would continue pressing
\nSwedish authorities to proceed with the legal process against GAM
\nleaders residing in that country.<\/p>\n
The minister said the government was not willing to open a new
\nround of talks with GAM as long as the rebels continued to
\ncampaign for independence.<\/p>\n
\"We are not willing to open a dialog with organizations that
\nonly ask for independence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
GAM leaders in Sweden recently said they would not engage in
\ndialog with the Indonesian government as long as the latter
\nattached conditions.<\/p>\n
\"It is good for human rights activists, organizations and the
\ninternational community to pressure us to open another round of
\ntalks. It is them (GAM) who refuse to return to the negotiating
\ntable,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
\"We used to believing what they say, but we no longer trust
\nthem,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-backs-down-on-plan-to-list-gam-as-terror-group-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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