GAM members back to families

GAM members back to families

From Rakyat Merdeka

Recent press reports that members of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) realized the need to rejoin their neglected families after being misled by the separatist group, have come as a soothing gesture that I believe will bring about a thorough settlement of the Aceh conflict.

Teungku Hasan Basri, a GAM leader in Meurohom Daya, West Aceh, and his 497 followers proved such awareness by ending their futile battles, exhausting mountain hiding and family abandonment.

Hailing from six villages in Krueng Sabee, the rebels reported to the local security office, pledged allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia and sang the national anthem before village community and religious leaders.

Questioned why they were willing to leave their jungle hideouts and return home, they admitted to having been led astray by a handful of GAM figures who struggled for their own interests in the name of Aceh people.

Most of the Acehnese have in fact realized that they were merely made a shield by which GAM could freely sow the seeds of hatred and enmity.

With this surrender, I trust that our fellow citizens still in hiding as GAM's henchmen will gain greater confidence to follow in the footsteps of Teungku Hasan Basri and go back home to cultivate farm land with their families.

BUDIARTO

Jakarta