GAM urges general strike to protest military brutality

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has called a general strike starting Jan. 16 in the restive province as a move to protest (Indonesian) alleged military brutality against civilians.

In its announcement, copies of which were distributed to the media on Friday, Sofyan Dawod, spokesman for GAM, or Atjeh Sumatra National Liberation Front, said that it was GAM Commander Tengku Abdullah Syafi'ie who had ordered the mass strike.

"The reason for the general strike is the fact that from day to day the (Indonesian) military and police -- as the Indonesian government's tools -- have becoming more brutal against innocent civilians in Aceh," Sofjan said.

He added that the military/police arrested civilians and forced them to join their operations before finally killing them. "Then the dead bodies are found with gunshot wounds or mutilated or burnt."

"They (military/police) claim to be upholding the law, but they arrest civilians and just kill them. Why didn't they bring them (the civilians) to court if they were suspected of breaking the law?," said Sofjan.

"The general strike includes the (temporary) halting of public transportation and closure of all government offices' services, including the gubernatorial office, the offices of regencies, district heads and all ministries offices, Sofjan Dawod said on Saturday.

"Exceptions will be made for hospitals, the Red Cross, drinking water companies, telecommunications offices and the press."

The military strongly criticized the general strike calls, saying that GAM was engaging in propaganda.

"The strike call is proof that GAM is provoking and intimidating the people of Aceh. We are sure that the people will go against the move," Zaenal told The Jakarta Post by phone from Lhokseumawe on Saturday.

"It's just GAM propaganda when it accuses the military/police of committing brutality like they did in the past. GAM is now cornered with less and less support from the Acehnese people," he said.

In 1999, parts of Aceh came to a halt from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6 following a students' call for a general strike over military brutality.

Streets were deserted, while shops, public transportation and businesses closed.

Everyday activities in Aceh were once again brought to a halt after the Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) called a general strike from Aug. 14 to Aug. 16 in 2000.

While GAM and the military were debating the general strike call, four unidentified bodies were found in separate places in Aceh on Friday and Saturday, humanitarian activist and military sources said. Records kept by the military show 50 people, including the latest four, to have been killed in Aceh this month.

The Indonesian government is insisting on reviving a military command in Aceh, arguing that the Acehnese people need this. Observers said that the revival of the military command would trigger fresh tension.