Councillor stands trial for treason
The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta
The Aceh Besar District Court began the trial on Thursday of a local legislative member who is charged with providing funds to Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels.
Prosecutors said that the councillor, Marwan Muhammad, 43, had financially assisted GAM leaders and members in the regency between 2000 and 2003, an offense under the Criminal Code article on treason.
"The crime is punishable with a maximum of 20 years in jail," prosecutor Dudi Mulya Kusuma said.
Marwan is the first legislative member to stand trial since martial law was imposed in the province on May 19. The emergency status has allowed for a four-pronged operation which consists of major offensive against rebels, humanitarian mission, empowerment of local administration and law enforcement.
Security authorities in Aceh have arrested a number of legislative members and government officials for allegedly assisting the rebels.
Dudi said Marwan had donated Rp 300,000 (US$35) to GAM leaders Teungku Ahyar, Teungku Tazurra and Ayah Muni and 10 times given between Rp 10,000 and Rp 20,000 to a GAM member over the past three years. As a councillor, he is paid around Rp 4 million a month.
"Beside financial assistance, the defendant had listened to a speech delivered by GAM leaders in Siron district in Aceh Besar regency, along with 25 fellow councillors," Dudi said.
Marwan of Golkar was arrested on July 25 this year by Aceh Besar police and is in the Aceh Besar Police's custody.
The defendant's lawyer, Darwis, called the charges against his client "vague".
He said his client gave the money to GAM members as individuals, as opposed to the institution.
Presiding judge Ismail adjourned the trial until after Idul Fitri to hear the defense lawyer's rebuttal. The Islamic holiday will fall on Nov. 25 and 26.
Separately, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Thursday the government was preparing a draft on amnesty policy and expects to consult the House of Representatives in the near future.
He said GAM rebels who surrendered to the Unitary Republic of Indonesia would be given priority once the policy took into effect.
On Wednesday, Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Abdullah Puteh appealed to President Megawati Soekarnoputri to meet her promise to grant amnesty to GAM members who had surrendered to the government.
Yusril said the government would investigate GAM members who were awaiting legal process, on whether they had joined the movement for ideological reasons, because "we are also giving consideration to granting them amnesty."
Yusril was distinguishing GAM rebels who joined for ideological reasons, or because they were seeking protection from their criminal or terrorist records. The latter would not be given amnesty, the minister told a media conference after holding a meeting on political and security affairs.
Separately, House Commission I for defense, security and foreign affairs failed to issue a recommendation to the government concerning the extension of martial law in Aceh for six months.
Commission chairman Ibrahim Ambong said after the closed-door meeting that legislators from Golkar and the National Awakening Party (PKB) factions had rejected the six-month extension and proposed to make it four months instead.