Councillor stands trial for treason

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.