Third phase of GAM weapons decommissioning begins<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After two successful weapons handover, the third phase of Free
\nAceh Movement's (GAM) weapons decommissioning is scheduled to
\ntake place from Monday to Thursday (Nov. 14 to Nov. 17), the Aceh
\nMonitoring Mission said.<\/p>\n
In a media statement issued on Sunday, AMM said all weapons,
\nammunition and explosives would be collected and destroyed in
\nfive different areas on the province's west coast during the
\nfour-day arms handover.<\/p>\n
The handover will first take place on Nov. 14 in an area near
\nCalang in Aceh Jaya. The second day of the weapons
\ndecommissioning will take place in West Aceh and Nagan Raya, the
\nthird in Southwest Aceh and the last day in South Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"In accordance with established procedures agreed to in the
\nCommission of Security Arrangements (COSA), the exact locations
\nin each area will be communicated by GAM to the AMM closer to the
\nstart of the decommissioning,\" the AMM statement said.<\/p>\n
\"The plan may be subject to changes for operational purposes.\"<\/p>\n
AMM, consisting of European Union (EU) and ASEAN peace
\nmonitors, has been working in Aceh since Sept. 15 and is expected
\nto end its tenure on March 15, 2006. Its main duty is to monitor
\nthe implementation of the Aug. 15 peace agreement between GAM and
\nthe Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
The decommissioning of GAM weapons started on Sept. 15 and was
\nto be executed in four stages.<\/p>\n
The fourth and last phase is expected to take place in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
Under the peace agreement reached in Finland, GAM is committed
\nto hand over 840 arms.<\/p>\n
The agreement stipulates that at least 210 weapons should be
\ncollected in each phase.<\/p>\n
During the first two phases of weapons decommissioning a total
\nof 570 weapons were handed over by GAM. Of these, 424 were
\nreceived by both AMM and the government of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A further 52 weapons were accepted by AMM but are still
\ndisputed by the government. The rest were disqualified by both
\nAMM and the government because they were out of order.<\/p>\n
AMM said the successful completion of the monthly weapons
\ncollections would trigger a withdrawal in stages of non-organic
\nIndonesian military and police forces from Aceh each month.<\/p>\n
The withdrawal of non-organic military and police forces in
\nNovember is planned to start immediately after the final day of
\nthe third phase of the decommissioning, the mission statement
\nsaid. Military and police personnel had also been withdrawn after
\nthe first two phases of weapons decommissioning.<\/p>\n
Four Mobile Decommissioning Teams consisting of monitors from
\nthe EU and five ASEAN countries will collect and decommission the
\nweapons.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/third-phase-of-gam-weapons-decommissioning-begins-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}