Government rules out dialog with GAM separatists
JAKARTA (JP): The government rules out opening a dialog with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) because it has never recognized the separatist group, Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi said on Tuesday.
Speaking to the media after visiting the office of state news agency Antara in Central Jakarta, the minister said the government rejected GAM's offer of negotiations because the group caused great suffering not only to the Acehnese but also the nation.
"They are no more than a separatist group which committed insurrection against the government with their crimes, aimed at threatening state security," he said.
Muladi also dismissed GAM's recent demand for international organizations or countries to mediate the proposed meeting.
Despite his criticism of GAM, he promised a general amnesty for the group's members if they agreed to surrender.
He said President B.J. Habibie would grant the pardon as soon as Minister of Security and Defense/Indonesian Military Chief Gen. Wiranto gave his approval.
The minister also recognized the possibility of negotiations with GAM leader Hasan Tiro, currently living in Sweden, if the latter agreed to talk in a private capacity or as an Acehnese community leader.
"I think that would not be a problem. But if he acts on behalf of GAM, no way," Muladi said.
He said the government would keep its pledge to accord special treatment to Aceh, including its right to adopt Islamic laws.
"It is OK not to sell beer there, please ban it, but there is no tolerance of GAM," the minister said, referring to Islamic prohibition of the consumption or trade of alcohol.
In another media briefing after meeting with Habibie at Merdeka Palace, Muladi dismissed accusations the government was not serious in handling unrest and violence in Aceh and Maluku's capital of Ambon.
He insisted it was the Acehnese and Ambonese themselves who held the capability to resolve their internal problems.
"The government is very concerned about the situation in Aceh and also in Ambon, but the solution also heavily depends on the people there."
Meanwhile, a health center official in Aceh reported the number of refugees sharply increased in the three most heavily affected regencies -- East Aceh, North Aceh and in Pidie -- from 117,176 two weeks ago to 144,820 last week.
According to Antara a total of 92,636 refugees were found in Pidie, 19,449 in North Aceh and 28,207 in East Aceh.
Head of the provincial crisis center Ibrahim Hasyim said more than 3,000 of the refugees were aged below 11 months and 19,503 under-fives.
"According to the latest data, 46 mothers have delivered their babies at the refugee camps," Ibrahim said.
Mafarisah, the widow of slain separatist figure Teungku Bantaqiah, demanded the government on Tuesday help Buetong Ateuh villagers in West Aceh regency recover from a valley the bodies of 10 villagers killed during a military raid last month.
Mafarisah, whose two sons also are reportedly missing in the incident that killed 52 people, said villagers recently found 20 other corpses in the Alu Baroh valley, but were able to bury only 10 of them on Saturday because the military prohibited them from recovering the rest.
Bantaqiah, a former political prisoner, was granted amnesty by the President several days before the latter visited Aceh in March.
In Surabaya, a dozen supporters of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) staged a peaceful demonstration demanding an end to atrocities in Aceh. They also insisted that the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) issue a fatwa (religious edict) to stop massacres in the troubled province.
"MUI, where is your fatwa on Aceh?" the youths shouted.
In Yogyakarta, about 100 students and lecturers of Gadjah Mada University staged a similar protest, calling on the government to withdraw the military from the province.
"It is time for us to pay more attention to the people," a protester shouted. (prb/swa)