GAM prohibits hoisting of separatist flag in Aceh

PIDIE (JP): Teuku Abdullah Syafei, a commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), in an apparent attempt to placate fears of unrest has forbidden the hoisting of the separatist flag on Saturday except for at regional GAM headquarters.

Speaking to journalists at a secret location in Pidie regency, Abdullah said on Wednesday that he feared civilians could become victims of clashes with the Indonesian Military if the separatist flag was widely flown during GAM's anniversary on Saturday.

Accompanied by 10 armed GAM soldiers, Abdullah however maintained that a public commemoration would still take place.

"But it won't be with the hoisting of the GAM flag. Whoever does that will be considered a provocator," he stressed.

Aceh has become increasingly tense over the past few weeks in the run-up to the GAM anniversary.

Calls for a referendum and for independence have grown in recent months in the troubled province. Clashes and reports of casualties have become an almost daily occurrence.

Tension in Aceh continued on Wednesday as 10 out of 14 military subdistricts in South Aceh have apparently been evacuated by the military and police.

According to local media reports, military and police were now concentrated in four operation points, namely Tapaktuan Military District Command, Blang Pidie Military Subdistrict, Labuhan Haji and Trumon.

Two separate shooting incidents occurred in Aceh on Tuesday, resulting in the death of one officer.

Aceh Police spokesman Maj. Said Husaini said an officer from the police elite Mobile Brigade, identified as Pvt. Pitoyo, was shot to death by an armed gang during an assignment to escort a bank vehicle carrying Rp 2 billion in cash.

"The convoy was ambushed in the Geuretee area in Jaya district, West Aceh, some 50 kilometers southeast of Banda Aceh," he said, adding that another officer, Pvt. Sugeng, survived the incident.

On Tuesday morning, an armed group also attacked a group of military officers in Lammo market, West Aceh, about 60 kilometers south of Banda Aceh.

Several military officers were injured but no fatalities were reported, said West Aceh Military chief Lt. Col. Widhagdo.

"We also received a report that a TNI member identified as Sgt. Edi Saputra was abducted by GAM members in Parom village, Seunangan district in West Aceh," he said.

Meanwhile, the People's Crisis Center in Banda Aceh reported on Wednesday that an estimated 40,000 refugees had packed mosques and temporary camps in the province.

"The people are terrified of possible massive unrest," a volunteer said.

Military

Separately, the Indonesian Military (TNI) indicated that it was anxiously awaiting developments in Aceh before determining its next move.

"The military is waiting for what will happen on Dec. 4," TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Wednesday.

He maintained that martial law should have been imposed to restore order and security in the province.

He claimed that the latest developments in the province had met conditions required by the 1959 Law on Emergency to allow the imposing of martial law.

Speaking of growing calls for independence, Sudrajat claimed that separatists would not get the support of the international community, which wanted to see the unity of the Indonesian state maintained.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, United States Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard said in a meeting with TNI Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. on Wednesday that his country would support dialog to seek a peaceful solution to the Aceh issue.

In Semarang, Central Java, sociologist Arief Budiman urged the government to hold a national dialog to solve the Aceh issue.

"All provinces must be involved in the dialog, in which they can talk about federalism," he said in a political discussion.

He also supported calls for a trial of all military officers responsible for the alleged massive atrocities during the military operation between 1989 and 1998 in the province.

Arief criticized President Abdurrahman Wahid for putting too much priority on his foreign trips rather than handling serious problems at home.

In Yogyakarta, dozens of students, members of the Center for Information on Referendum in Aceh (SIRA), staged a demonstration demanding a peaceful solution to the Aceh issue and the establishment of a federal state system.

The demonstrators also urged the government to bring to court all military officers involved in alleged rights abuses. (44/50/51/har/edt/rms)