Troops reinforcement in Aceh possible, TNI says<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh<\/p>\n
With disarmament in Aceh taking effect within a week, the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) is preparing for the worst, which could
\ntroop reinforcements should violations of the peace deal take
\nplace.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Djali Yusuf, chief of the Iskandar Muda Military
\nCommand overseeing the province, said on Sunday the TNI remained
\non high alert for any possible disruptions of the cease-fire with
\nthe Joint Security Commission (JSC) yet to decide how the
\ndisarmament would take place and whether the Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) would comply with it.<\/p>\n
\"The disarmament of the rebels will be a starting point for
\nall parties involved in the peace agreement to show their
\ncommitment to the peace agreement.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not in the position to say whether we will defy or uphold
\nthe peace agreement, but as a military man I will be prepared for
\nthe worst possibility,\" Djali said.<\/p>\n
The officer refused to disclose the number of reinforcement
\ntroops prepared to be sent to Aceh if the peace deal breaks down
\nfor any reason, including a refusal by GAM to surrender its arms.<\/p>\n
Currently, there are some 22,000 soldiers deployed in the
\nprovince to back up thousands of police personnel.<\/p>\n
According to the peace agreement signed by the Indonesian
\ngovernment and GAM on Dec. 9, 2002, in Geneva, the two parties
\nagreed to promote peace and confidence-building measures within
\nthe first two months of the deal, followed by a five-month period
\nfor GAM to disarm and for the TNI and police to return to their
\nbases.<\/p>\n
The JSC is responsible for overseeing the implementation of
\nthe peace accord in the province. It has cited both GAM and
\nIndonesian security personnel for serious violations of the
\ncessation of hostilities agreement. GAM was criticized for two
\nserious violations and Indonesia for one serious violation.<\/p>\n
Separately, Indonesian troops took down more than 30
\nseparatist flags in Aceh, witnesses said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Some 20 soldiers overseeing security around an ExxonMobil gas
\npipeline in Keude Krueng, North Aceh district, lowered the flags
\nfrom trees and electricity poles in the area, AFP quoted a
\nwitness as saying.<\/p>\n
One flag was being flown from a flagpole in the front yard of
\na local elementary school, according to the reports.<\/p>\n
\"The soldiers were very careful in lowering the flags, fearing
\nthat the flagpoles were mined or booby trapped,\" a witness told
\nlocal journalists.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/troops-reinforcement-in-aceh-possible-tni-says-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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