Civil resistance against GAM

Civil resistance against GAM

From Media Indonesia

At least eight people including a high school student have allegedly again been taken hostage by the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) amid the apparent government's attempt to release RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro and possibly hundreds of others.

GAM's move has apparently shown its lack of good will to set free all hostages and rendered its promises meaningless. In this way the image of GAM is further worsened in the eyes of the Acehnese, the Indonesian public and the international community.

The increasingly difficult position of GAM following military pressure and shrinking logistic supplies in fact should cause panic among the separatists. The sacrifice of civilians as human shields, is bad, especially since GAM boasted about its prowess when it declared war against the Indonesian military and police.

The military and police refusal to make political deals with GAM or accept its conditions for the release of hostages is therefore appropriate. Any concession given to GAM would set a bad precedent for the law enforcement effort in Aceh, because the movement's action is against humanity.

In order to maintain public security in Aceh, local civilians should put up strong resistance and support the military/police to crush the rebel group and end its violence for the survival of the Acehnese.

TGK A MUHIDIN Jakarta