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.