Aceh peaceful ahead of GAM anniversary

Aceh peaceful ahead of GAM anniversary

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): While tension was mounting in Irian
Jaya following the celebration of the unsuccessful 1961
declaration of independence, there was a semblance of peace at
the opposite end of the archipelago on Sunday.

In Aceh on the eve of the 24th anniversary of the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM), the police reiterated a warning against attempts
to hoist the separatist flag.

"We will take stern action against people who attempt to raise
flags other than national red-and-white flags in the territory,"
Police Special Operation Cinta Meunasah deputy chief Supt. Yatim
Suyatmo said.

In response to the warning, GAM military wing (AGAM) commander
Sofyan Daud indicated on Sunday compliance with the police ban.

"If hoisting GAM flags will endanger people's lives, we advise
them not to do it," he said.

Separately, the GAM spokesman for Pidie regency, Abu Razak,
said the commemoration of the movement's anniversary would be low
key since it coincides with the Islamic fasting month.

There will no official program to mark Monday's anniversary,
but GAM governor for North Aceh Sayed Adnan said some 30 GAM
commanders in their respective areas were expected to read out a
written statement from Aceh rebel leader Hasan Tiro, who is
living in self-exile in Sweden.

Sayed said Aceh GAM chief commander Abdullah Syafei was
expected to preside over the ceremony to be held in Batee Iliek
area, Bireuen regency.

Sayed added that the contents of Tiro's speech was mainly to
call on Acehnese to continue fighting for independence.

Local reporters who wish to cover the event were told to leave
for Batee Iliek a day earlier, for fears that security personnel
would step up measures to prevent them reaching the area.

Democracy

In Yogyakarta, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker
Amien Rais insisted on Sunday that commitment to democracy would
help the government deal with disintegration threats facing the
nation.

Speaking at a discussion with Muslim followers packing the
mosque in the compound of Gadjah Mada University here, Amien said
the country was facing the most serious threats ever compared to
regional rebellions in the past.

He said the use of force would be dangerous, if not fail to
address the separatist movement in the restive provinces of Aceh
and Irian Jaya, also known as West Papua, which mostly stemmed
from socioeconomic injustices and the central government's
failure to meet aspirations of people there.

"I have observed with anxiety people beginning to think that
an authoritarian government is more workable (in coping with the
disintegration threats) than a democratic one. This is of course
very dangerous," he said.

He admitted, however, the separatist movement was "an
unimaginable outcome" of the reform movement that showed long-
time ruler Soeharto the door in May 1998.

"It is only a matter of time before separatism in Aceh and
Papua explodes," Amien, who visited Aceh as part of his tour of
Sumatra recently, warned.

Amien, who played a leading role in the reform movement, also
proposed that the government uphold justice, regain the trust of
both people in the country and international community and ensure
clean governance to bring the country's multifold problems under
control.

A military source, meanwhile, told The Jakarta Post that three
battalions of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) had been
sent to both Irian Jaya and Aceh to back up police to maintain
order in the two provinces.

He said the move was in line with President Abdurrahman
Wahid's pledge not to let go of the two natural resource-rich
territories.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has said that the
troops have donned police uniforms.

The source said the decision to use police uniforms was made
because "the government's stance to use dialog has presented us
with a serious problem and provides us with no legal basis to
launch operations".

To anticipate possible disturbances in Aceh on Monday, the
military says it will take stern action if necessary, he said.

"Once they (the Acehnese) declare independence, the military
will have no choice but to crush them," the source said.
(02/50/lup/swa)