Former GAM members to celebrate Idul Fitri at home

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

Maulidarrahmi, 18, a former member of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) smiled when she was told that had been granted permission to spend ten days at home to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Among the former rebels who surrendered to the martial law administration, 440 will leave on Friday to go home for the holiday, which falls on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26. "I want to meet my mother. It has been a long time since I saw her," Rahmi, as she is affectionately called, told The Jakarta Post earlier this week.

Her father, Abdul Mutalib, formerly the GAM governor of Sabang area, is being detained at Keudah Penitentiary and is soon to face trial.

Rahmi, joined the Inong Balee (local name for GAM's female troops) at the GAM base on Siron Mountain, Aceh Besar regency, which borders the capital of Banda Aceh. She claims that she was only trained to march, has never held a gun and joined under the influence of friends.

Other women cite revenge as their reason for joining the troops, claiming that family members died at the hands of Indonesian military or police.

Rahmi surrendered just days after the imposition of martial law on May 19. She was taken to the Banda Aceh penitentiary, before being moved to the Teacher's Training Center. For the past four months at the center, located 17 kilometers from Banda Aceh, she has been versed in how to be a good citizen.

During the Ramadhan fasting month, Rahmi is woken up at 3 a.m. by a whistle. Together with fellow former Inong Balee members, she eats her sahur (morning meal) of rice and vegetables, before performing a morning prayer.

Most people go back to bed after morning prayers, but these former GAM members are trained in various skills, such as sewing, farming and home industry.

Just after dusk, they break their fast together and attend evening prayers (tarawih), led by a former GAM member.

Rahmi and her friends are looking forward to a break from the routine, if only for a ten-day holiday. However, some fear that if they return to their villages, active GAM members might punish them for surrendering.

"It's a bit scary. But I will take care of myself," Husaini Zainuddin, 18, of Aceh Tamiang regency, said.

Separately, Iskandar Muda Military Command chief of staff Brig. Gen. M. Yahya said the former GAM members would return to their homes with notification letters issued by the martial law administration.

"They should report to local military and show the letters to the officers. If something goes wrong, we will know it," Yahya told the Post.

The former GAM members have been divided into groups depending on their village of origin. The military has assigned each group a leader, also a former rebel.

He said the former GAM members must return to the Teacher Training Center before Dec. 1.

Those who are afraid to go home are allowed to remain at the center.

An officer supervising the center, Jimmi, believes the former GAM members will comply with the rules of the game.

"If any of them fail to return to the center, it will be the responsibility of the group leader," Jimmi said.