GAM, govt in row over police, military pullout

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Representatives of the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) could not agree on the question of police withdrawal during negotiations for the humanitarian pause and forwarded the issue to a higher forum in Geneva.

"We hope the Joint Forum will resolve the deadlock," Col. Ridwan Karim, a government representative in the security committee, said in a media briefing here on Sunday. Also present was GAM's Tengku Nasiruddin bin Ahmad.

The two sides had reached a deadlock on six points for the security modalities which are part of the necessary arrangement for the humanitarian pause as signed in an accord last month.

The deadlock specifically centers on the presence of military and police.

GAM wants Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) units in various projects in Aceh redeployed and replaced with special security guards.

It also proposes a complete withdrawal of the military from the field back to the barracks, a cessation of operations and for security forces to be disarmed.

Meanwhile, Indonesian representatives have insisted that the ongoing police operation Cinta Meunasah, a continuation of Operation Sadar Rencong, must be maintained to restore law and order.

In a related development, a prisoner in North Aceh named Abdurrahman Rasyid, 32, died in his police cell at Jeumpa Subprecinct in Bireuen.

"Rasyid committed suicide in his cell. Officers found him hanging with a rope around his neck," local police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said.

Rasyid was allegedly involved in the Rp 3 billion robbery of Bank Rakyat Indonesia near Takengon last month when a group of gunmen raided the bank's van which was transporting cash.

He was arrested on June 7 at his house in Bireun.

The GAM Commander in Bireuen, Darwis Djeunieb, however, claimed that Risyad was murdered by police as he was a witness to the robbery which he claimed was actually carried out by security force members. (50/edt)