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