GAM ready to hand in, destroy weapons

GAM ready to hand in, destroy weapons

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Pidie

In line with the peace deal earlier signed by the Indonesian
government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM), GAM members have begun
gathering weapons and have said they are ready to hand them over
to the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM).

GAM in Pidie, for example, say that they have gathered 30
percent of their weapons at an undisclosed location in Pidie
regency and will hand them over on Sept. 15 as required under the
peace deal.

Pidie regency is one of the areas where weapons will be handed
over, along with Banda Aceh, Bireuen, Lhokseumawe, Meulaboh,
Langsa and Tapak Tuan, between Sept. 15 and Sept. 17.

"The weapons have been collected at a GAM base," said Suadi
Sulaiman, a GAM leader in Pidie.

GAM members are now waiting for an order from GAM Commander
Muzakkir Manaf to actually decommission the weapons, which is
widely seen as crucial to the success of the peace deal.

Although they still deeply mistrust the Indonesian Military
(TNI), Suadi and his men have already come out of the jungle and
rejoined the community.

When in the towns and villages, the former guerrillas do not
carry weapons, although these are still kept at a secret
location.

According to the terms of the peace deal, at least 840 rifles
belonging to GAM are to be destroyed, while in return the TNI
will pull some of its forces out of Aceh. Weapons decommission
may be carried out employing two methods. First, the weapons may
be surrendered at locations designated either by GAM or the AMM,
while second, GAM members may surrender weapons individually to
the AMM or Indonesian authorities. Some GAM members have already
opted for the second method. Since the peace deal was signed on
Aug. 15, 19 GAM members have handed over five rifles to the
Indonesian authorities in Central and South Aceh regencies.

The weapons included Russian-made AK-47s and U.S.-made M-16-
A1s.

Suadi said that he was delighted with the peace deal between
Indonesia and GAM.

"Although we are no longer at war, GAM members in Pidie will
still keep in touch," said Suadi.

Meanwhile, Nasir, a GAM member, said that it was difficult for
him to give up his weapon. "I have surrendered my rifle. This is
the first time in a long time that I have been separated from
it," he said.

Although nervous about giving up the firearm, he said he hoped
the peace deal would lead to lasting peace, ending three decades
of bloody conflict in Aceh. "If real peace is achieved, people
will no longer have to suffer the consequences of war," he said.