GAM negotiators, activist get long sentences
GAM negotiators, activist get long sentences
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe
Aceh Darussalam
The Banda Aceh District Court sentenced on Tuesday three
negotiators of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), including chief
negotiator Sofyan Ibrahim Tiba, and women activist Cut
Nurasyikin, to prison terms of between 11 years and 15 years.
The court convicted Sofyan and his colleagues, Amni Ahmad
Marzuki and Muhammad Usman Lampo Awe, to 15 years, 13 years and
12 years respectively for treason and terrorism.
"The defendants have caused unrest among the people. They also
tried to separate (Aceh) from Indonesia," said presiding judge
Maratuo Rambe while reading out the verdict.
Maratuo said the three defendants were charged with terrorism
since they knew of killings, bombings and abductions but they did
not report them to the authorities.
The defendants were charged with treason since they were
appointed as negotiators by GAM, he said.
Shortly after hearing the court's decision, the defendants
said that they would appeal the verdict, arguing that the
sentence was too heavy and unfair.
"The defendants did not commit physical acts of terrorism.
It's also wrong that the negotiation process was considered as an
evil conspiracy that led them to commit treason," the defendants'
lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said.
Buyung regretted that the court did not consider that the
defendants' actions were aimed at helping create peace in the
province.
Prosecutors earlier demanded that the court sentence Sofyan,
Amni, Muhammad Usman to 18 years, 15 years and 16 years
respectively.
The court will read out the verdicts of two other GAM
negotiators Kamaruzzaman and Nashiruddin Ahmad on Wednesday.
Sofyan and the four other negotiators were arrested on May 19,
the day the government imposed martial law in the province.
In a separate courtroom trial on Tuesday, several Acehnese
women activists burst into tears upon hearing the court's
decision to sentence Nurasyikin to 11 years in prison for
treason.
"The defendant conducted a speech in which she demanded a
referendum in 1999 and challenged the legitimate government,"
presiding judge Hamdan Hasibuan said.
Hamdan said the defendant conducted a referendum campaign and
held a GAM flag in Baiturrahman Grand Mosque on Dec. 4 three
years ago.
"Thank God. Long live Aceh. Dissolve Indonesia," Nurasyikin
shouted when the judge finished reading the verdict.
However, Nurasyikin, 48, who heads Srikandi, a non-
governmental organization for women's empowerment, appealed the
court's decision.
Nurasyikin's lawyer Darwis said the verdict was too heavy,
saying: "Nurasyikin should be charged with insulting the state,
instead of treason."
He cited an example of a trial against the chairman of the
Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) Muhammad Nazar who was
sentenced to five years in prison for insulting the state.
Meanwhile, in related development, the Indonesian Military
(TNI) announced on Tuesday that it had captured two GAM members
in operations in Pidie and Aceh Besar regencies.
TNI operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said the
rebels, identified as Syamsuddin, 55, of Seulimum district, Aceh
Besar, and Sabri, 15, from East Mutiara district, were arrested
on Saturday and Sunday respectively, Antara reported.