GAM gets tough as govt discusses Aceh options

GAM gets tough as govt discusses Aceh options

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) threatened on Sunday to "teach
colonial forces a lesson" if Jakarta resumed its military
operation in Aceh, while the government meets to decide the next
step in handling the restive province.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government would discuss on
Monday a number of options for handling the Aceh crisis.

"We hope the President can choose one of these options and
decide what steps to take in the coming Cabinet meeting on Monday
(today)," he told reporters on Sunday after greeting President
Megawati Soekarnoputri who has just returned from a 10-day trip
to Romania, Russia and Poland.

He said the Cabinet meeting aimed to discuss the continuation
of the peace process and the agreement, and evaluate the latest
situation in the province following Megawati's return.

Jakarta has intensified its warnings against the rebels,
threatening to crush them through a renewed military operation.
Troops in Aceh have been reinforced with more likely to be sent
if the prospect for peace dims further.

GAM, however, warned of more bloodshed should Jakarta decide
to resume its military operation in the province of Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam.

"If Indonesia wants to continue its occupation on the Acehnese
through a military operation then we will teach the occupying
forces a valuable lesson," said GAM's military wing spokesman
Sofyan Dawod in a statement.

Hopes are fading for a peace accord between Jakarta and GAM.
Both blame each other for not sticking to the deal but refuse to
meet to talk over their differences.

A joint council meeting aimed to salvage the peace accord was
scrapped at the last minute last week.

Indonesia canceled the meeting, angry over GAM's apparent lack
of seriousness when it demanded the meeting be held outside the
country and then refused again because the date fell on the
weekend.

GAM refused to take the blame, saying it was Indonesia that
pulled out of the planned meeting.

Signed in December last year, the Cessation of Hostilities
Agreement remains the strongest hope for lasting peace to return
to Aceh.

The agreement lays out concrete steps for both sides to defuse
tension, and violence has significantly been reduced since the
signing.

GAM is supposed to relocate its weapons while the Indonesian
Military (TNI) is moved to defensive positions. However, these
moves were not entirely followed through.

Indonesian officials said GAM was still withholding their
weapons while the latter charged that TNI-backed militias were
provoking violence.

International peace monitors across the province were
evacuated to the province's capital of Banda Aceh, following
threats made against them by suspected pro-Jakarta militias.

GAM has been fighting for an independent Aceh since 1976 in a
war that has killed some 10,000 people, mainly civilians.

Sporadic violence meanwhile continues. Two employees of state
Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) were abducted on Saturday during
their trip home from work in Krueng Batee village in the regency
of Kuta Fajar.

So far neither side has indicated it will withdraw from the
peace process, keeping the hope alive that talks will resume.

GAM spokesman Sofyan said that GAM remained committed to the
peace accord and Vice President Hamzah Haz said on Saturday that
the peace process had to continue.