GAM withdraws troops as JSC deploys teams
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Hundreds of armed members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) returned to their bases on Thursday as part of the peace accord it signed with the government earlier this month, as teams of observers prepared to fan out across Aceh to monitor the ceasefire.
About 500 members of GAM's military wing, the Armed Free Aceh Movement (AGAM), in the Aceh Besar regency began a nearly two-day march back to their "barracks" on Wednesday.
The troops were stationed in a GAM-controlled area known as Aceh Rayeuk region 22. Located about 25 kilometers east of the province capital, Banda Aceh, region 22 oversees four regencies.
A military GAM post resembling those owned by the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI), marked their presence. Dozens of GAM soldiers were seen occupying the newly built military post.
Just one-and-a-half kilometers separated the GAM post from the nearest TNI post belonging to 310 Battalion.
"This is our first post, there are 10 more posts before we arrive at our base," said Teungku Hamzah, the commander of GAM's Gajah Keng special forces in the region. "With the signing of the peace agreement we all must head back to our barracks."
He said GAM troops guarding the posts, however would stay. More than 1,000 were stationed at the posts, he said but would not say how many soldiers GAM had in region 22.
The region is one of three under GAM's Aceh Rayeuk. The others are known as region 25 and 26.
Just two posts occupy region 25 where some 300 GAM troops are stationed. It is also the home of GAM Aceh Rayeuk commander Teungku Muharram.
GAM has been fighting for an independent state in the natural- resources rich province since 1976. More than 10,000 have died in the war.
A decade-long military operation to squash the separatists has failed, and the government abandoned the strategy in late 1999.
In mid 2000, Indonesia quietly opened talks with GAM under the auspices of the Geneva-based non governmental organization, the Henry Dunant Centre (HDC).
The resulting ceasefires failed.
After numerous delays, the government and GAM signed a more comprehensive ceasefire agreement, which aims to provide a basis for building lasting peace in the province.
Emphasizing confidence building, the deal allows both sides two months to observe each others' compliance to end hostilities.
Although the security condition has improved since the signing of the agreement, sporadic violence has claimed 14 lives so far.
A Joint Security Committee (JSC) in charge of implementing the peace deal is preparing to send out teams across Aceh to monitor security and investigate violations of the agreement.
The JSC's monitoring team consists of representatives from the government, GAM and HDC appointed foreign observers. Not all of the 150-strong team have arrived in the province and the team's working procedures have not been fixed.
JSC plans to send 72 team members, 24 from each side, to several regencies in the province, said Thailand's Maj. Gen. Thanongsuk Tuvinan who heads the HDC's mission at the joint committee.
"Right now we're still discussing the JSC working mechanism and the sanctions for those who violate the agreement in the field," he said as quoted by Antara.
The second batch would follow in about two to three weeks time, he added.