Environmentalist held over alleged GAM link

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.