Former Aceh rebels remain wary as disarmament nears
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Pidie
Distrust and fear still runs deep among members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) as the date for the decommissioning of weapons is drawing near. As the disarmament between Thursday and Saturday nears, GAM members are still apprehensive about a possible backlash from Indonesian Military personnel, whom they have fought for almost 30 years.
"Although I no longer stay in the jungle, I am still afraid of returning home," said Tengku Zul, a GAM insurgent, from an undisclosed location in Pidie regency. Zul was staying in a kampong dozens of kilometers from his home in Tiro Pidie district, Pidie regency on Tuesday.
It is not surprising that Zul is worried as his hometown, which is also the birthplace of GAM leader Hasan Tiro, has long been marked black by the Indonesian Military (TNI), meaning that the area is a GAM stronghold. Zul expressed fear that he would be treated badly by the TNI or other anti-GAM elements if he returned home. Although he knows that whether he returns today or after three years it would make no difference, he said that he had to be prepared psychologically before returning home.
The acts of violence committed by both the TNI and GAM fighters are still fresh in his mind.
"I am longing to return home, moreover I have not seen my children for a long time. But it is not that easy," said Zul. As he does not dare return home, Zul maintains contact with his wife through cell phone.
Unlike Zul, another former GAM fighter Kadir chose to return home, ignoring the risk of being treated badly by TNI personnel or anti-GAM elements within Acehnese society. Kadir returned home from the jungle shortly after the much awaited peace deal was signed between GAM and the Indonesian government on Aug. 15. Although he is back at home, Kadir still does not dare to sleep at home at night, fearing a raid by GAM enemies. Moreover, he is still traumatized by past experiences.
"I escaped several raids and it takes time to erase past memories. I know that the peace deal has been forged but I still feel uneasy, moreover now I do not carry any weapons," he said.
Chief of the TNI Aceh command Maj. Gen. Supiadin gave his assurance that the former GAM members would be treated with dignity and honor.
"They will be treated as brothers," he said.
As it is stipulated in the peace deal, the rebel organization will hand over some 210 weapons or a quarter of their total 840 weapons by Sept. 17, while in return, the TNI will pull out between 7,000 and 8,000 troops from Aceh.
The disarmament is seen as a key to the success of the peace deal. If the decommissioning of weapons is not carried out due to the distrust between GAM and the TNI, it will thwart the peace deal that has been achieved after years of negotiations.