Police request Interpol to help arrest Tiro<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
National Police have sent a request to Interpol headquarters as
\nwell as 181 member countries for assistance to arrest Hassan
\nTiro, a top leader of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
\nfor crimes in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday it was
\ndifficult to arrest Hassan Tiro who currently lives in Stockholm,
\nSweden, because of differences in regulations in each Interpol
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"It isn't easy to arrest the GAM leader. That is why we have
\nasked Interpol to assist,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
GAM has been fighting for an independent state in Aceh since
\n1976. Hassan Tiro, now a Swedish citizen, has been leading the
\nseparatist rebel movement from overseas.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has requested Sweden to take legal
\naction against Tiro and another GAM leader, Zaini Abdullah, who
\nled rebellion in Aceh against Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday that Indonesia
\nhoped that Sweden would respond to Indonesia's request soon.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that legal action would paralyze GAM's organizational
\nstructure,\" Hassan said at the State Palace after joining Thai
\nforeign minister Suragiart Sathirathai in a meeting with
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
The Swedish government has said they cannot take legal action
\nagainst Hassan Tiro and Zaini as the country guarantees freedom
\nof expression.<\/p>\n
Sweden has the right to protect its citizens \"while big
\ncountries such as the United States has prohibited its people
\nfrom launching separatist movements in other countries,\" Hassan
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government launched a military operation on
\nMonday to crush the rebellion in Aceh.<\/p>\n
GAM leaders in Sweden have asked the United Nations and the
\ninternational community to intervene and stop the war in Aceh.<\/p>\n
But Hassan rejected the call and said there was no reason for
\nthe United Nations to meddle in the Aceh conflict.<\/p>\n
\"No way. The conflict is an internal problem. No one can
\nintervene in our affairs,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-request-interpol-to-help-arrest-tiro-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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