Aceh braces for GAM anniversary

Aceh braces for GAM anniversary

BANDA ACEH (JP): An uneasy calm enveloped much of Aceh on
Friday as the province braced itself for the much touted Free
Aceh Movement's (GAM) anniversary celebration.

While there were no reports of clashes or unrest on the eve of
Saturday's separatist anniversary, President Abdurrahman Wahid
issued a strong warning against separatist rebels.

Abdurrahman on his way home from a three-day visit to China,
said in Beijing that it is "the right" and "privilege" of the
president "to do whatever is necessary" to defend the nation's
integrity.

Meanwhile, some people in Aceh attempted to continue with
their daily lives despite the evident anxiety.

The main point of contention on Saturday will be whether the
Indonesian red-and-white flag will be taken down in Aceh and
replaced with the separatist flag.

The Indonesian Military has warned that it will take stern
measures against such action. Such warnings have prompted GAM
commanders to prevent the flying of the separatist flag by
civilians.

GAM commander Teuku Abdullah Syafei said the separatist flag
should only be flown at regional GAM commands to avoid an
outbreak of violence and bloodshed.

Local authorities on Friday continued to urge locals to stay
calm and to avoid conflict.

"We will adopt a persuasive approach and restrain from taking
any repressive moves while monitoring the situation," Teuku Umar
Military Commander Col. Syarifuddin Tippe said.

One regency which was obviously gripped by fear and expecting
the worst was Pidie.

Only a few shops were open on Friday while most residents
declined to leave their homes, especially at night, for fears of
fresh clashes between the military and rebels.

Prices have shot up in the region. "A Bandeng fish which
usually sells for Rp 8,000 is now Rp 16,000. A kilogram of
cooking oil has risen from Rp 3,000 to Rp 3,500," a housewife
said.

More than 70 local and foreign journalists have flocked to
many towns across the province, especially Lhokseumawe and Pidie,
in anticipation of what might happen.

Repressive Force

Meanwhile, in Beijing, Abdurrahman warned on Friday that if
separatists challenge the government then "we will use repressive
force".

The President also acknowledged that he had issued a written
statement which included orders for the military and police to
use force, if necessary, to uphold the law.

Abdurrahman has said that he would support a referendum in
Aceh, but for the imposition of Islamic law and not for
independence.

Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, People's Consultative
Assembly speaker Amien Rais asserted that there was still an
opportunity for the nation to solve the Aceh crisis.

One indication of how difficult the situation will be is if
people decide to tear down the Indonesian flag en masse.

"If they only go on the streets to protest then it means that
we still have a good chance to make an arrangement through
dialog," Amien said after the opening ceremony of the
Muhammadiyah Tanwir leadership meeting.

He said that from a historical point of view, what is
happening in Aceh is similar to separatist movements which
erupted throughout the country in the republic's early years.

Amien called on the Acehnese people to truly consider the
implications of a desire to break away from Indonesia.

"Independence is not a good option. It can backfire, as it's
not easy to form a state," he said.

The former chairman of Muhamadiyah shed tears when speaking to
his audience about Aceh, saying that the matter is almost
reaching a "point of no return".

He said he was sad at the government's sluggish pace in
handling the Aceh issue.

Amien warned that Indonesia might experience the same
phenomenon as the former Soviet union did after its glastnost
(openness) and perestroika (restructurization) movement.

"Indonesia ought to be careful in pushing its reforms. It's
ironic that at a time when Europe is united as a center of power,
provinces here want to be apart," said Amien.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
Tanjung on Friday reasserted that independence was not an option
which could be accepted by the legislature.

"If the House agrees on a referendum, it would offer autonomy
or a federal state at the most," Akbar said referring to the
recommendations by a special House committee on the issue of
Aceh.

The committee on Thursday issued a set of recommendations
which included a referendum. But it failed to define what the
referendum would be for.

In Semarang, Central Java, Javanese transmigrants who returned
from Aceh about a week ago, claimed that six settlers in Cok
Girek, Serauke, in North Aceh were killed by GAM members during a
dispute over the transmigration program.

Two transmigrants, Purnomo and Adi Winardi, said the six were
killed as they were believed to be leaders of Javanese
transmigrants.

"GAM members first terrorized them and threatened to kill them
if they refused to leave the area," Purnomo said.

In a separate development, a group of 100 students of the
Indonesian Muslim Student Association (HMI) in Yogyakarta, staged
a demonstration in front of the provincial council building. They
demanded the trial of military generals allegedly responsible for
the alleged massive atrocities in Aceh. (43/44/50/51/har/sur/rms/jun)