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