GAM vows to continue to fight for freedom

GAM vows to continue to fight for freedom

BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander
Abdulah Syafi'i led a military ceremony to commemorate the
movement's 24th anniversary in Batee Iliek in the regency of
Bireuen, Aceh, and pledged to continue the struggle for freedom.

Around 500 people, including members of the GAM female force
Inong Balee, attended the peaceful ceremony which included a
written address from the exiled Acehnese leader, Hasan di Tiro,
read by, among others, Abdullah Syafi'i. The address was
translated into Bahasa Indonesia and Acehnese.

A huge GAM flag was displayed at the ceremony, which was
tightly guarded by armed GAM militia members. The ceremony
started at 7:30 a.m. local time.

In his statement, Hasan di Tiro, who has been in Sweden since
the 1980s, called on the Acehnese people to continue the fight
for an independent Aceh, and not submit to colonialist Indonesia.

"I call on you to prepare both material and moral strength so
that we can defend the honor of our nation," he said.

"The Acehnese people are obliged to wage war against this
terrorist state."

Di Tiro's statements defy the Indonesian government and
military's pledge to prevent any separatist moves.

Indonesia's government has warned that the unitary state of
the Republic of Indonesia is final and that there is no
possibility for Aceh or Irian Jaya to become independent.

The government has ruled out Aceh's demand for independence
and, instead, offered wide ranging autonomy to the province.

Reports indicated that anniversary ceremonies were held almost
simultaneously in 30 areas throughout the province on Monday.

In the capital of Banda Aceh, hundreds of people congregated
at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh to attend a mass
prayer marking the GAM anniversary.

GAM members in the Joint Committee on Security Modality and
members of the Joint Committee for Humanitarian Actions Cut Nur
Asikin and Kamaruzzaman attended the ceremony at the grand
mosque.

In his oration, Teungku Amni bin Marzuki, a member of GAM,
reiterated the demand for Aceh's separation from Indonesia.

The most emotional moment at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque was
when the GAM flag was showered with white flour before being
carried from the left to right corners of the mosque.

Many people burst into tears during this event.

"The scattering of white flour is called besiju. It expresses
our hope that everything will end in a cool situation," a local
said.

The ceremony at the grand mosque was said to be much 'cooler'
than that in Bireuen.

Despite the military and police high alert, Banda Aceh was
totally calm on Monday. Daily life remained normal as shops and
markets all opened as usual, and public transport operated
normally.

Later in the afternoon two armored vehicles and two trucks,
carrying army and police officers, roamed the city. Other
security force personnel were seen lowering the GAM flag hoisted
at the Syah Kuala University campus.

The flag

Unlike last year's festivity, there was no GAM flags waving
along the Banda Aceh-Medan highway on Monday, however, the flags
were seen flying in public buildings and streets in several
regencies, namely Bireuen, Pidie, Aceh Besar, North and West
Aceh.

Residents said they had been secretly helping GAM rebels raise
the flags in their districts since late Sunday evening.

Police Special Operation Cinta Meunasah deputy chief Supt.
Yatim Suyatmo had earlier warned that stern action would be taken
against those who attempted to raise flags other than the
Indonesian red-and-white flag.

The North Aceh capital of Lhokseumawe, 270 kilometers away
from Banda Aceh, was calm on Monday with scores of security
officers on alert since Sunday night.

There was no impression that the people were intending to
celebrate the anniversary of GAM. Not a single shop was opened
down town making the business districts, including those along
Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Periniagaan and Jl. Perdagangan, look lazy and
idle, Antara reported.

Periodically, private vehicles would cruise through those
roads, which are usually busy. The roads looked abandoned without
the operation of local transit vehicles.

A local said that this year's situation was much better than
that of last year, judging from the fact that no gunshots were
heard until 3:15 p.m. local time.

The bloody fighting in the province remains unabated despite
Indonesian government and GAM representatives having signed an
agreement, called the Humanitarian Pause, to ease tension in the
disputed territory last May in Switzerland.

The pause was later extended in September but failed to end
the violence with GAM continuing its struggle for independence
and the Indonesian government vowing to quell any separatist
activities in the territory.

Further talks were scheduled to take place on Dec. 5 and Dec.
6, however, GAM has asked for a delay until a date between Dec.
10 and Dec. 15, on the grounds that they were busy with the
anniversary festivities in Aceh on Monday Dec. 4. (50/51/lup/sur)