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)