221 more ex-GAM members release from reeducation camp

221 more ex-GAM members release from reeducation camp

Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh, Aceh

The government released on Tuesday 221 people, who were accused
of membership of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), after the latter
completed a three-month "reeducation course" in Neuheun
subdistrict, Aceh Besar regency.

The release was the fourth since the imposition of martial
law, here, last year.

A total of 1,681 former GAM members have been released from
"reeducation" camps sprawled across North Aceh, Aceh Besar and
West Aceh regencies. That figure includes the 221 people released
on Tuesday.

At the camps, the former GAM members are required to study the
basic principles of the Indonesian state, including the state
ideology Pancasila, and to sing the national anthem Indonesia
Raya, as well as other patriotic songs.

Acting as mentors are dozens of military and government
officials, who are also supposed to teach the participants
various skills, such as sewing and farming.

Not all of them, however, are reportedly GAM members. Some,
for example, were arrested merely on the grounds that they
provided GAM members with food, including Usman, 45, a fisherman.

Saiful, 21, on the other hand, said he had fought for the
separatist movement since 1999. He said that GAM propaganda had
initially aroused his interest in the movement. Saiful
surrendered last year, along with seven other friends, for fear
of being hunted and killed by the Indonesian Military.

"I feel relieved, although other GAM members might consider me
a traitor, and, if they knew of my whereabouts, could kill me,"
he said.

Another former GAM member, who requested anonymity, cited a
similar dilemma: "Frankly speaking, I am scared -- I heard that
GAM members killed the family of a former GAM member who
surrendered to the military," he said.

Saiful said that he was unsure what to do, now that he was
free, "I may go to East Aceh to start a new life, but I have to
report first to the authority in my hometown in North Aceh," he
said.

Once former GAM members report to their local military
command, they are granted a certificate and asked to sign a
letter that states they will not leave Aceh for six months --
pending a presidential amnesty that is being discussed by the
central government.

Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh said that each former GAM member
graduating from a "reeducation" program would be given Rp 2
million (US$ 210.5), so that they could start a small business.