GAM violently defies ban on anniversary observance

GAM violently defies ban on anniversary observance

Nani Farida and Teuku Agam Muzakkir, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe

Celebrations marking the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) anniversary
proceeded in the province on Thursday despite the heavy military
presence there to prevent the observance.

Efforts to deny GAM members a chance to commemorate the self-
proclaimed independence by the movement's founders 27 years ago
left two Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) soldiers seriously
wounded during an armed clash in the hilly Siron area in Aceh
Besar regency.

The military also deployed dozens of troops equipped with
mortars and armored vehicles to Nissam area in North Aceh, which
was once known as the base of GAM commander-in-chief Muzakkir
Manaf.

Soldiers lowered separatist flags hoisted in coconut trees in
the eastern part of Sigli district in Pidie regency, one GAM flag
in Lhokseumawe and several others in East and South Aceh
regencies.

Police joined the military operation to prevent the
celebration and to maintain security by deploying at least 1,500
personnel who patrolled suspected GAM strongholds.

In several hamlets, GAM, nevertheless, tried to hoist the
separatist Crescent-Star flags. At least three flags were
hoisted. But the military lowered the flags immediately after
receiving reports from locals.

Except for several gunfights between government troops and GAM
rebels, the situation remained calm across the province. Traders
continued their business as shops were open and public
transportation was operating.

In South Aceh, a firefight between the Indonesian Military and
GAM fighters took place, resulting in the death of Second Pvt.
Yaser Arafat.

Aceh military operation spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki
claimed three GAM rebels were shot dead and four others were
arrested during a raid in Tanah Luas subdistrict in North Aceh.

In another raid in Bireum Bayeun area in East Aceh, three GAM
fighters were killed, while another one was killed during a raid
in Seunobok village, East Aceh regency.

Despite the attacks, GAM claimed to have held ceremonies
almost simultaneously at around 8 a.m. in separate undisclosed
locations across East Aceh and Sabang.

"Due to the situation, we only held a modest flag-hoisting
ceremony," Teungku Zainal Abidin, GAM spokesman overseeing Sabang
and Aceh islands region, said.

The celebration took place separately at three locations --
Idi Rayeuk, Simpang Ulim and Peureulak, with Teungku Ishak Daud
leading an observance in Peureulak, Teungku Mansor, GAM spokesman
for East Aceh regency, said.

Nearly 1,000 GAM fighters in the region took part in the
celebration, Abidin said,

In a release made available to The Jakarta Post, Muzakkir
asked all GAM members to remain on alert and maintain discipline.

Meanwhile the military encouraged people to fight the rebels.
As of Thursday, around 7,000 members of the People's Front
Against Separatist GAM (FPSG), gathered in Bireuen regency and
burned GAM flags and two replicas of GAM founder Hassan Tiro who
is now in self exile in Sweden.

The rally was an expression of the people's anger toward GAM
who had brought the Acehnese to poverty, the group said in its
statement.