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.