Scholar queries plan to put GAM on terrorist list<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The government's intention to submit the Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nto be included on the United Nations (UN) terrorist list drew
\ncriticism on Saturday, with a scholar calling it a move to seek
\ninternational legitimacy for the military to crush the rebels.<\/p>\n
International law expert Bantarto Bandoro said the move would
\nnot win worldwide support, as the separatist movement was not
\nconsidered a threat to international interests, but a group
\nfighting for independence from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"Perhaps the government is right by saying that GAM has
\ncreated terror among the public, but the international community
\nunderstand it as a movement to break away from Jakarta. It has
\nnever posed threats to international interests elsewhere in the
\nworld," he said.<\/p>\n
"On paper, it is possible for Indonesia to ask the UN to
\ndeclare GAM as a terrorist group, but practically and
\npolitically, it will not win significant support," Bantarto told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Jakarta imposed martial law on the resource-rich province on
\nMay 19 to allow for a major military offensive against the
\nseparatists, who have been fighting for independence since 1976.
\nThe martial law expires in November, but the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) has asked for an extension to enable the Acehnese to
\nexercise their right to vote in the general elections and the
\npresidential election next year.<\/p>\n
"The government requires legitimacy from the international
\ncommunity, as there has been no significant progress after more
\nthan three months of the military operation. No top GAM leaders
\nhave been arrested so far," he said.<\/p>\n
Bantarto said GAM, as well as other separatist groups such as
\nthe MNLF in the Philippines and the IRA in Ireland, was far
\ndifferent from terror groups like al-Qaeda, which had an
\ninternational network.<\/p>\n
"Al-Qaeda developed an international network in a bid to
\nattack foreign interests and cause terror in the world," he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the challenge, the Indonesian government was confident
\nit would finally win international support for its attempt to
\nhave GAM listed with the UN as a terrorist group.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Saturday
\nthat the government possessed enough evidence to convince the
\nworld that GAM was involved in a series of terror attacks across
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
"It will be appropriate for the international community to
\nacknowledge GAM as a terror group, as terrorists are not
\nnecessarily linked to the al-Qaeda network," Hassan said.<\/p>\n
He said a series of bomb attacks allegedly perpetrated by GAM
\nmembers could be categorized as indiscriminate, politically
\nmotivated and violent, which fit the definition of acts of
\nterror.<\/p>\n
The General Assembly Resolution 49\/60 issued on Dec. 9, 1994
\nsays acts of terror include crimes that threaten a nation's
\nterritorial integrity and security.<\/p>\n
"The state members solemnly reaffirm their unequivocal
\ncondemnation of all acts, methods, and practices of terrorism as
\ncriminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever committed,
\nincluding those which jeopardize the friendly relations among
\nstates and people and threaten the territorial integrity and
\nsecurity of states," the resolution says.<\/p>\n
However, Hassan stressed that the government would only
\nproceed with the plan only if the legal process against exiled
\nGAM leaders in Sweden failed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scholar-queries-plan-to-put-gam-on-terrorist-list-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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