Death threats prevent former rebels from returning home

Death threats prevent former rebels from returning home

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

Dailami, 31, could not hide the sadness on his face during the
conclusion of the third phase of the rehabilitation program for
former Aceh Freedom Movement (GAM) members.

He was one of 340 former Aceh Separatist Movement (GSA) rebels
at the Education Excellence Institute (LPMP) in Ladong, Aceh
Besar, who were being released after undergoing a guidance
program for three months. "I'm very touched and relieved,"
Dailami, the former GAM governor of Linge territory, told The
Jakarta Post recently.

He recounted that the situation in Aceh had forced him to
become a governor of the separatist movement.

At the end of 2000, Dailami started a farm in Central Aceh. As
the location was frequently traversed by armed rebels, he claimed
that he eventually joined the movement for the sake of safety. He
was later appointed as the governor of the Linge area.

Besides Dailami, 1,681 other ex-rebels have been drilled at
the LPMP institute in Ladong. The rebels, along with their
sympathizers, received guidance on nationalism and Islamic
studies, and acquired training in auto repair, agriculture,
animal husbandry, tailoring and farming.

Dailami had good reason to feel satisfied, with his wife and
two children expecting him, and a handout of Rp 2.5 million
(US$280.00) from the government as starting capital to raise
chickens.

He had previously lived in fear and constant anxiety. He moved
from one forest to another during the first three months of
the martial law period in Aceh. He surrendered to the authorities
for two reasons: he was scared, and he was hungry.

The only things that Dailami wished for after undergoing the
rehabilitation program was to live in peace, and to not return to
Central Aceh where he still owns a piece of farmland.

Other former GAM members and their compatriots have their own
plans for starting a new life. Most of them have opted not to
return to their villages for safety reasons.

Four ex-rebels, for instance, have pooled their Rp 2.5 million
in funds to open an auto workshop in North Aceh. They were part
of the first batch of former rebels rehabilitated at the
institute in Reuleut, North Aceh.

"We don't dare return to our villages, so we'll just set up
business in the town area," said 25-year-old Muhammad.

A junior high school graduate, Verawati, was of the same
opinion. She surrendered to Indonesian military forces because
she felt guilty after being trained in marching by GAM forces.

After going through the program, she decided to live in Bireun
and open a tailor shop. She had vowed not to return to her
village of Mee in Peudada district.

"There are still many GAM rebels in my village," she said
smiling.

There is no guarantee that the situation in their places of
origin is safe, even though security personnel have given their
word to protect them.

Based on media reports, more than 10 GAM rebels, who had
completed the government rehabilitation programs and gone home,
were later found shot dead during the civil emergency period.

It is therefore understandable that the former GAM members and
their sympathizers are reluctant to return to their home
villages.

The government launched major offensive attacks against GAM in
May last year, which was followed by the imposition of martial
law in the war-torn province.

Martial law status was lifted in May this year, after
improvements in the security situation there.