Aceh rebels to be jailed in Java

The Jakarta Post , Banda Aceh/Semarang/Jakarta

The history of Aceh is set to repeat in itself as a large group of convicted rebels will have to serve their jail terms in exile from their home province.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Monday that overcrowded prisons in the strife-torn province had prompted the government to move the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) prisoners from the province to Central Java.

A total of 143 rebels will be transferred to a number of penitentiaries across Central Java, including the Nusakambangan maximum security prison island, where former president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra and golfing buddy Mohammad "Bob" Hasan are also serving jail terms.

The first batch of 89 rebels will arrive at their new prisons on Wednesday. Among them will be former GAM negotiators Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, Teuku Kamaruzzaman, Nashiruddin bin Ahmad, Amni bin Ahmad Marzuki and Muhammad Usman.

Only those who were sentenced to three years or more in jail and those whose appeals were rejected by the high court will be moved.

"The penitentiaries in Aceh are all full," Yusril told reporters in Jakarta.

Over 1,000 rebels have been captured or have surrendered since the Indonesian Military (TNI) launched its massive offensive against the rebels in May last year.

A century ago, the Netherlands Indies administration also sent Acehnese independence leaders, such as female heroine Tjoet Njak Dien, into exile in West Java. The Dutch considered this would weaken the local people's resolve to resist the colonial troops.

Adi Sujatno, the director general of penitentiaries at the justice ministry, admitted that penitentiaries in Central Java were just as overcrowded as those in other parts of the country.

"But we will provide space for the convicted GAM members," he said.

"We will teach them about nationalism and provide them with practical skills."

Adi said the government understood the move would separate the convicted GAM members from their families.

"But, it also happens to other inmates across the country," he asserted.

Marsono, who heads the Central Java office of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, said his office was ready to receive the GAM members.

Apart from the Nusakambangan penitentiary, his office had also designated the Semarang, Magelang, Ambarawa, Bulu, Kedungpane and Pekalongan penitentiaries to house the rebels.

Separately, Sri Rahmayanti, 28, the daughter of Sofyan Tiba, appealed to the martial law administration in Aceh to cancel the transfer of her father due to his health problems.

Sofyan, who suffers from diabetes, must adhere to a special diet, Sri said, adding that she brought specially prepared meals to her father every day.

"I think it is clear he is not simply being moved, but rather is being exiled," Sri said.

Afridal Darmi, a lawyer who represents the convicted GAM members, complained about the transfer of his clients, which will go ahead despite their appeals to the Supreme Court.

"Such transfers should only be applicable to prisoners whose appeals have been rejected by the Supreme Court. I'm going to find out whether the martial law administration knows about this regulation," he said.

Afridal also complained that the Aceh provincial government had not provided him with sufficient documents regarding the planned transfer of his clients to Central Java.

"The police only showed me a letter ordering the transfer of the GAM members to Java," he said.