More militia groups set up to fight GAM<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam<\/p>\n
After the six-month extension of martial law in Nanggroe Aceh
\nDarussalam, civilians have been mobilized to set up militia
\ngroups across the war-torn province to help crush separatist
\nrebels.<\/p>\n
Members of these groups are equipped with sharpened bamboo
\nsticks and machetes and wear white-and-red headbands. Most claim
\nthat they were victims of violence blamed on Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) rebels.<\/p>\n
An Acehnese man, Ahmad, 31, was among those civilians in Aceh
\nBesar regency who joined a militia group.<\/p>\n
Along with around 1,500 people, mostly youths, he gathered at
\nPeukan Biluy water fountain, about 15 kilometers east of the
\nprovincial capital of Banda Aceh, to declare the establishment of
\nthe Anti Aceh-Separatist Front (FPAS GAM) recently.<\/p>\n
The group was initiated to help the military and police crush
\nthe rebels who are believed to have set up camps in the hilly
\narea, known as a GAM stronghold.<\/p>\n
\"We were asked recently to gather here and Pak Keuchik (the
\nvillage head) said that we should hunt for GAM rebels in that
\nmountainous area,\" Ahmad, who is a banana vendor in Lambaro
\ntraditional market, said.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he refused to answer a question pertaining to
\nwhether or not he would use sharp weapons to fight the separatist
\nguerrillas.<\/p>\n
\"I'm afraid the military will say I am a GAM member if I
\nrefuse to join (a militia group). It is better I am here (with
\nthe group), isn't it?\" Ahmad asked.<\/p>\n
The wives of those joining the group also met at the fountain.
\nThey expressed concerns over their husbands' safety, arguing that
\nthey already knew that it was impossible to fight GAM that was
\nequipped with guns, including AK-47s.<\/p>\n
However, after a whole day looking for GAM rebels the members
\nof the group failed to find even one guerrilla.<\/p>\n
Martial law was extended in Aceh on Nov. 19.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Indonesian Military (TNI) blamed a lack of public
\nsupport from Acehnese civilians for its failure to capture key
\nGAM leaders.<\/p>\n
TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has endorsed the
\nmobilization of civilians in Aceh.<\/p>\n
The military, however, refused to call the group a militia
\ngroup, despite the fact that its members are allowed to carry
\nsharp weapons.<\/p>\n
Similar anti-GAM movements had earlier been initiated in
\nCentral Aceh and Bireun and other regencies across Aceh.<\/p>\n
In Aceh Jaya regency, the anti-GAM movement is called the
\nAnti-Free Aceh Movement Front (FAGSAM), while in South Aceh,
\nthousands of civilians have established the Anti-Separatist
\nMovement (GPSG). In Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, a similar group is
\ncalled the People's Fortress to Fight Aceh Separatists
\n(Berantas).<\/p>\n
In Indrapuri subdistrict, security officers have reportedly
\nasked the wives of GAM rebels and their relatives to help them
\nlocate the guerrillas.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists have expressed concern over the rampant
\nestablishment of militia groups in Aceh, saying the move could
\ncreate civil war there.<\/p>\n
In 1999, the TNI backed the establishment of pro-integration
\nmilitia groups in the country's former province of East Timor
\nahead of a UN-sponsored independence vote there.<\/p>\n
The militiamen were blamed for carnage in East Timor when it
\nvoted for independence in August 1999.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-militia-groups-set-up-to-fight-gam-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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