RI to present Sweden with evidence against GAM<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is preparing a last ditch effort to convince
\nSweden of a series of crimes linked to leaders of the separatist
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) now residing there.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday that Jakarta would
\nsubmit court documents detailing terrorist acts conducted by GAM
\nmembers upon instructions from their leaders.<\/p>\n
\"The documents show a clear link between bombings ordered by
\nGAM leaders in Sweden. This is concrete proof,\" Susilo said after
\nchairing a coordinating meeting of ministers dealing with
\npolitical and security affairs.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had earlier asked Sweden to take stern measures
\nagainst GAM leaders Hasan Tiro, Zaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmood,
\nfor leading a secessionist movement in the country's westernmost
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Sweden, however, declined to take action against the GAM
\nleaders on the grounds that they had not violated Swedish law.<\/p>\n
Law enforcers here have neither charged the three in court,
\nlet alone sentenced them to prison, making it almost impossible
\nfor Sweden to take action against them. The three GAM leaders are
\nall Swedish citizens.<\/p>\n
Sweden, however, had also asked the government to provide
\nsolid proof of GAM leaders' involvement in a spate of bombings in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The proof includes legal and political evidence, noting that
\nSweden recognizes Hasan Tiro's leadership in the Aceh movement
\nbut they don't know if in fact the movement is an armed
\nrebellion,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri decided on Monday to send a
\nteam headed by her special envoy Ali Alatas to Sweden to convince
\nits leaders that GAM is a terrorist organization. The team is
\nexpected to leave for Sweden later this week.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the government would take decisive action if it
\nreceives an unfavorable response from Sweden.<\/p>\n
\"If we continue to receive a negative response from Stockholm
\nit is not impossible that we take drastic action that would
\naffect bilateral relations,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
In another development, Swedish Ambassador in Jakarta Harald
\nSandberg told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the embassy was
\nreopened on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We are pleased with the security guarantee from the
\nIndonesian government,\" said Sandberg.<\/p>\n
The embassy was closed for a number of hours on Monday
\nafter receiving an e-mail threat.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on
\nTuesday that he had sent a team to Thailand in a bid to pursue
\nZakaria Zaman, a Swedish national known as GAM's defense
\nminister.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia and Thailand have agreed to cooperate on this
\nissue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The team, consisting of intelligence officer Adj. Sr. Comr.
\nSitanggang, Comr. Rahmat Basuki of the police transnational
\ncrimes division and Sr. Comr. Iskandar Hassan of the National
\nCentral Board of Interpol, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"He (Zakaria) entered Thailand using a Singaporean passport
\nand smuggled weapons to Aceh,\" he added.<\/p>\n
So far, Da'i said, friendly countries such as Thailand,
\nMalaysia and several other of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN), have agreed to help Indonesia on the issue.<\/p>\n
Sweden was one among the first few countries that recognized
\nIndonesia's declaration of independence in 1945.<\/p>\n
Sweden is also a member of donor countries grouped in the
\nConsultative Group for Indonesia (CGI). Bilateral trade is valued
\nat US$350 million annually, with several major Swedish companies
\noperating in the country such as telecommunication company Sony-
\nEricsson and automobile company Volvo.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-to-present-sweden-with-evidence-against-gam-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}