GAM weakened but far from crushed: Army

GAM weakened but far from crushed: Army

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

Maj. Gen. I Gde Purnawa, chief of Bukit Barisan Military
Command overseeing Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra admitted
on Monday that the security authorities were having difficulties
crushing the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in restive Aceh because, in
addition to the province's large size, the separatist movement
was backed by the local bureaucracy, politicians and students.

He said that following the security operation underway since
last April, tension in the province had gradually calmed down,
while the separatist movement had weakened and its rebels were no
longer able to move about so freely.

Purnawa made the statement when accompanying Minister of
Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah and Governor of North Sumatra T.
Rizal Nurdin to see off the departure of the first group of local
Muslims making a pilgrimage to Mecca at Polonia Airport here on
Monday.

He said GAM only possessed psychological strength, especially
in intimidating the Acehnese people. This could be seen in its
recent call for a total strike to protest the planned revival of
the Iskandar Muda Military Command, which was dissolved in 1986.

"The call for a strike was not fully supported by the people
of Aceh. This is evidence that locals are afraid of the rebels
but do not support their struggle," he said.

Purnawa hailed the establishment of vigilantes or civilian
security forces in Singkil, Southeast Aceh and Central Aceh to
counter the separatist movement.

"We consider the presence of such vigilantes positive and
security authorities will back them up," he said, adding that the
Indonesian Military had deployed 20,000 personnel in the ongoing
operation in the province.

Asked to comment on the planned revival of the military
command, Purnawa said it was aimed at maintaining security in the
province and not to suppress civil society.

"It's time for Aceh to make its own political, legal and
security decisions," he said, without elaborating.

He said that under a military command filled with Acehnese
personnel, the security authorities would be able to monitor and
reach even the remotest parts of the province.