Government mulls suing GAM leader Hasan Tiro

Government mulls suing GAM leader Hasan Tiro

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

The Indonesian government is planning to sue Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) leader Hasan Tiro and his aides should the latter continue
to carry out measures against the peace process in Aceh.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday that although the
government had prioritized peace talks over Aceh, Hasan Tiro had
repeatedly hampered them.

He said, for example, Hasan Tiro recently called for a three-
day strike from Aug. 16 through Aug. 18, and caused calamity
during the celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day in Aceh.

"Should the Aceh peace process end in deadlock, we shall take
realistic action, suing Hasan Tiro and his associates in an
international court," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Because Hasan Tiro is a Swedish citizen, the government would
sue him in Sweden, according to Susilo.

"It is impossible for us to leave him unpunished, a foreign
national who provokes unrest and instability, as well as
undermining our country's unity," he said.

In May, the government and GAM agreed to continue peace talks
over Aceh. The next dialog was scheduled to be held in Geneva in
September.

Despite the Geneva dialog plan, killings, bombings and chaos
have continued to grip Aceh.

The government, seemingly impatient, has given GAM a December
ultimatum to accept special autonomy, or the military will deal
with GAM using brute force.

The government introduced, on Jan. 1, 2001, special autonomy
status for Aceh, allowing it to retain up to 70 percent of its
oil/gas revenues and implement shariah law in the Muslim
stronghold.

GAM has been fighting for Aceh's freedom from Indonesia since
1976 due to what it perceives as economic and other injustice.

Susilo said the government would continue to prioritize the
peace talks process to resolve the Aceh problem, within the
framework of special autonomy.

The peace talks initiative was coming from the government, not
the Henry Dunant Center, he added.

"We have also asked the center to tell the international
community that the Indonesian government is earnest in seeking a
peaceful solution to the Aceh conflict," he said.

Separately, a GAM military commander and six civilians were
killed in gunfights over the last three days in South Aceh,
Indonesian Military (TNI) and human rights activists said on
Monday.

One GAM commander was shot by TNI personnel during a raid on
Padang Panjang village, 300 kilometers southeast of Banda Aceh,
on Monday morning, Capt. Inf. Satrio Marmi said.

Six civilians in South Aceh were killed on Friday and
Saturday, including a family, by unidentified armed men, another
TNI officer said.

Sayed Qurasy (50) and his wife were shot dead at their house,
while their daughter died on her way to a local hospital. Two of
their children were saved from the slaughter.

A source said the killing was carried out by GAM.

The other three deceased were found at Alur Naga ravine,
Tapaktuan subdistrict. According to a source they were killed by
TNI personnel.