GAM excluded from drafting Aceh law

GAM excluded from drafting Aceh law

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The drafting of a bill on Aceh's governance
has excluded representatives from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM),
which demanded self-rule in the province.

"Formally, GAM is not involved in formulating the draft law on
governance in Aceh. But they (its leaders) have often taken part
in discussions and seminars," Acting Aceh governor Azwar Abubakar
said on Sunday.

The Aceh administration set up a team to draft the bill by
mid-September, including academics from three universities in
Aceh -- the Syiah Kuala University, the Ar-Raniry State Institute
of Islamic Studies and the Malikussaleh University.

The team is expected to complete the draft on Oct. 11.

The bill will regulate, among other things, relations between
the central government and the Aceh administration, GAM's
political role and economic empowerment as well as law
enforcement.

GAM spokesman Kamaruzzaman said his group was separately
drafting a similar bill.

"We hope that in the final stage, there will intensive
discussions on the two bills drafted respectively by GAM and the
government," he added. --JP