GAM leaders should return home

GAM leaders should return home

From Republika

The head of the Aceh Monitoring Mission, Pieter Feith, has
called on leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who live in
Sweden and elsewhere to return to Aceh because it is now safe.

I completely agree with Feith because there is no reason for
those leaders to delay their return after the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between GAM and the Indonesian
government. Furthermore, their return would be significant,
giving the Acehnese extra spirit to implement the memorandum.

A number of GAM's elite and seniors have already integrated
into the community. Others have even joined the rehabilitation
and reconstruction program in Aceh and, with the signing of the
MOU, they have automatically regained their Indonesian
citizenship.

There should be no questions about their personal security
and/or other problems with the government. The central government
has in fact instructed the military and police to protect them.

But if the GAM elite do not heed this appeal, we have every
reason to be suspicious about their seriousness in establishing
peace in Aceh -- they may have a "grand strategy" behind the
signing of the MOU.

Such attitude would harm their integrity -- politically and
psychologically -- particularly when it comes to the approaching
regional elections.

T. YUSUF SYARIFUDDIN
Banda Aceh