Government gloomy about dialog with GAM
Government gloomy about dialog with GAM
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD said on Sunday
he was pessimistic that the scheduled dialog between the
government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Switzerland on
Monday would be successful.
"Actually, we (government) are pessimistic about the dialog
with GAM because they have set a 'fixed price'... they only want
freedom from Indonesia," Mahfud told a meeting with members of
the Yogyakarta chapter of the Association of Acehnese People
(HIMA).
"But we'll continue to talk until the problems are settled.
"I myself have been pressured by many parties to declare GAM's
activities as bughat (subversive) against the government of
Indonesia," he said.
The minister claimed that GAM was not as big as the print
media had reported in their publications.
"GAM is only supported by a small number of Acehnese. As an
example, the government recently received a delegation of
Acehnese who proposed the establishment of Galaksi province,
which includes the regencies of Gayo, Alas and Singkil," he said.
"But, we have yet to prioritize the proposal because we're
still trying to settle Aceh problems as a whole."
Meanwhile, fighting between rebels and security forces have
left at least 11 people dead, police and witnesses said on
Sunday.
The latest bloodshed happened just days before negotiators for
the two sides are due to meet for a final round of peace talks in
Switzerland on Monday before the Humanitarian Pause expires on
Jan. 15.
The deaths bring to 24 the number of people killed since the
beginning of this year.
Chief Comr. Yatim Suyatmo of the Cinta Meunasah Operation
deputy spokesman said a police officer was shot dead in a gun
battle with a separatist gang in South Aceh.
"One rebel was shot dead during a joint police-military raid
on a rebel hideout in southern Aceh, led by Capt. Sultan Depok
Samandoko.
"The officer said six other rebels were captured and two
escaped," Suyatmo said.
Also Saturday, villagers found the bodies of three civilians
in two separate locations near the rebels hideout, said officials
of the local hospital.
In Lhokseumawe two men were shot to death by an assailant on a
motorcycle and four other men were killed in separate attacks in
eastern parts of the province.
Tension rose in Aceh as activists and local leaders demanded
on Sunday for the police to revoke the order for gunmen to
surrender their weapons, saying that such a requirement "would
trigger open conflicts between security forces and rebels,
placing civilians in the middle".
"We fear that the police order will only worsen the situation
because rebels will fight them hell to high water," Aguswandi,
chief of Aceh's Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of
Violence (Kontras) said on Sunday.
The order No. Po.01/XII/2000 issued by Aceh Police chief Brig.
Gen. Chaerul R. Rasyidi stipulates that all illegal weaponry must
be handed over to the police by Jan. 15.
"There is no reason for people to be afraid since the order is
clearly meant for those possessing illegal weaponry. This is
important to restore law and order in the area.
"Without firm action, unlawful people will be freely roaming
the area with weapons and violence will continue," the general
told media on Sunday.
Several GAM leaders in Aceh have pledged to fight the security
forces if searches for weapons continue.
"The weapons are held by us, not the civilians. If they (the
troops) want to take them, they have to fight us," Abu Arafah,
GAM commander in Meureuhom Daya in West Aceh said.
"We have surrounded the military/police posts and if they
initiate the move after Jan. 15, we will launch counter attacks,"
claimed Abu Sofyan Daud, GAM commander in Pase, North Aceh.
(23/50/edt/imn)