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.