Be firm with separatism

Be firm with separatism

From Koran Tempo

The signing of the Treaty on the Cessation of Hostilities on
Dec. 9, 2002, in Geneva by the Republic of Indonesia and the Free
Aceh Movement (GAM) led to the hope that the conflict in Aceh,
which has been going on for 26 year, would end and peace would
prevail.

Unfortunately, despite the signing of this peace pact,
violence has continued, including raids, assaults, extortion,
kidnappings, and shootings. The Joint Security Committee assigned
to implement the peace pact cannot do much in this respect.

Although post-Soeharto Indonesian governments have tried to
solve the Aceh conflict amicably, negotiations with the
separatist GAM are yet to produce the desired results.

The two are quite opposite in their stances. GAM does not wish
to compromise in their demand for independence for Aceh, while
for the Republic of Indonesia Aceh is an inseparable part of the
state and any attempt at secession is construed as an attempt to
overthrow the legitimate government.

Nowhere on earth can separatism be justified. If a separatist
group takes up arms, this is tantamount to waging rebellion.
Obviously, rebellion must be crushed. It is the authority of the
Indonesian Military and the National Police to maintain the
sovereignty of the nation and the state. Therefore, there must be
no hesitation in maintaining the integrity of the unitary state
of the Republic of Indonesia.

ABDUL FATAH
Jakarta