Environmentalist held over alleged GAM link

Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

The Aceh martial law administration has arrested an environmental activist for alleged involvement with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), sparking protests from his lawyer.

Bestari Raden, 50, was arrested in the Southeast Aceh last Friday, when he visited the area to evaluate the feasibility of a controversial highway project there.

Bestari is a member of a government-formed team charged with assessing the construction of the proposed Ladia Galaska highway, which would link the province from west to east.

The project, which passes through the protected Leuser National Park, a home to many of the country's endangered species, has drawn strong opposition from foreign groups and local environmental activists, including Bestari.

Activists have become targets of military operations since the government launched a massive offensive against GAM rebels in May last year. Bestari's arrest is the latest attempt to crack down on activists who have alleged links with GAM rebels.

Aceh military spokesman Lt. Col. Ditya Sudarsono confirmed Bestari's arrest on Monday.

"Certainly, there are indications of his connection with GAM, observed through his attitude and behavior," he told The Jakarta Post, saying security forces had detained Bestari to get further information about his activities.

"Right now in Aceh, many people are playing double roles (as GAM members and) activists, journalists and even Red Cross officers," he said.

Bestari's lawyer, Bambang Antariksa, rejected the claim, saying the arrest was linked with the Ladia Galaska highway project that his client has strongly opposed.

The Southeast Aceh Police had named Bestari at the top of their most-wanted list for allegedly becoming the GAM leader for the Tapak Tuan area in 2000, he said.

"It doesn't make sense that Bestari is GAM commander when he has been active in Jakarta since 1999. When did he take up arms?" Bambang said.

Last year, Bestari, who is also a former head of the National Indigenous Society Alliance (AMAN), was involved in an alliance congress in West Nusa Tenggara, attended by several government ministers.

In 1999, he and the Rimueng Lam Kaluet, a non-government organization, launched campaigns in Southeast Aceh against companies that used forest concessionaires (HPH) in the area for illegal logging.

The campaign managed to convince the government not to issue concessionaires several companies involved in illegal logging in Southeast Aceh. Law-enforcement agencies had supported the logging.

Ditya, however, rejected any notion Bestari's arrest was linked to the Ladia Galaska project.

"It's about his connection with GAM. We don't know anything about his opposition to the Ladia Galaska project," Ditya said.

Last month the Military administration vowed to go after activists in the province who were allegedly GAM members or accomplices.

Ditya said the administration was determined to pursue those activists wherever they went because "their actions hurt the national interest".

Earlier this month, an Acehnese student, Mohammad bin Mohammad Toyib, was arrested for allegedly serving as an adjutant to the GAM movement's head of finances.

The student, of the Banda Aceh-based Ar-Raniry Islamic Institute, was arrested while in an Aceh student dormitory on Jl. Cicendo in Bandung, West Java.

GAM has has been fighting for independence for the natural resource-rich province since 1976.