Former Aceh rebels remain wary as disarmament nears

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.