GAM takes nine female students hostage

GAM takes nine female students hostage

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has once again taken
female students hostage, this time at least nine, for allegedly
consorting with government troops.

Aceh police spokesman Comr. Suparwoto said on Wednesday that
the girls were kidnaped by GAM members at Idi Cut village in East
Aceh regency on their way home from school.

GAM spokesman Ishak Daud confirmed on Wednesday that the armed
rebel group had detained the nine female students because of
their "close relationships" with government troops.

The nine have been identified as Khatijah, Halimah, Yusdiana,
Ulidiana, Rosnidar, Marliah, Nursida, Halimatusakdiyah and
Yusnidar.

The students, comprising eight senior high school students and
one university student, were reported to have gone missing on
Saturday, but Ishak Daud said GAM kidnapped the students on
Thursday and Friday at the request of their parents.

"We have information that the nine students were taken as
hostages by GAM's inong balee (female troops)," Suparwoto was
quoted by Antara as saying.

Ishak told AFP that the nine had initially been released but
were later detained again after their parents had asked they be
given "further training" by GAM.

He said there was no immediate plan to free the nine, but
added that they were being "treated properly and were in good
condition."

GAM was also searching for three women who had been
encouraging students to consort with government troops stationed
in the staunchly Muslim province, Ishak said.

A few months ago, GAM members kidnapped nine high school
students, also in East Aceh, whom they accused of spying for the
Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police.

All the students were later released after having been held
hostage for a few months.

The violence in the troubled province has been raging on
despite an agreement achieved at peace talks last week in Geneva,
Switzerland, to work towards a cease-fire.

During the two-day peace talks, GAM and government negotiators
committed themselves to work "with all speed" towards a cease-
fire to pave the way for democratic elections in Aceh.

GAM also accepted special autonomy for Aceh as a starting
point for the holding of an all-inclusive dialog, which would
involve all elements of Acehnese society under the sponsorship of
the Henry Dunant Center.

The dialog is scheduled to take place between now and 2003 in
Aceh.

However, the Indonesian government's chief negotiator Wiryono
Sastrohandoyo stressed that any further dialog could only succeed
in a stable and peaceful atmosphere.

Under the special autonomy first granted in January 2001, Aceh
is allowed to partially implement syariah (Islamic law) and
retain a much greater share of its oil and gas revenues.

The two sides had agreed on truces during successive meetings
in Switzerland arranged by the Henry Dunant Center since 2000.
But the cease-fires have rarely held.

GAM has been fighting since 1976 to establish an independent
state in the province on Sumatra island. More than 10,000 people,
mostly civilians, have died in the conflict, including over 500
this year alone.