Govt prepares amnesty data as Helsinki peace deal near
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
As the signing of the Helsinki peace agreement draws near, Aceh's Justice and Human Rights Agency is collecting data on the number of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members currently serving jail terms in 20 prisons in Aceh.
"We have been assigned by the central government to get the information. It is aimed at helping ensure the success of the amnesty program provided for in the agreement," said the director of the Correctional Division at the Justice and Human Rights Agency, M. Dzulhaqil.
According to the provisional figures, there are currently 1,437 inmates in Aceh's prisons, 1,248 of whom have been convicted while the remaining 189 inmates are on remand. The largest number of inmates are housed in Bireuen and Lhokseumawe prisons, with 272 and 212 respectively.
The number of inmates charged with committing treason does not include those who escaped from prison during the tsunami disaster last year that destroyed many buildings, including prison buildings.
The information collected will comprise the backgrounds of the inmates and the reasons why they were sent to jail.
Dzulhaqil said that his office would not collect data on inmates living in prison in other provinces such as West Java, Central Java, East Java and Bengkulu.
"The justice and human rights agencies in those areas will be responsible for collecting data on GAM members serving jail sentences in their areas," he said.
Currently there are 469 GAM members serving jail sentences outside Aceh. They were transferred to prisons outside Aceh two years ago as all the prisons in Aceh were full. Cutting their links with GAM was another reason why many prisoners were transferred to prisons outside Aceh.
According to Dzulhaqil, his agency would only collect data on inmates living in Aceh prisons and whether they should be entitled to an amnesty under the rules to be drawn up by the central government and GAM.
Meanwhile, the Bireuen regency government has prepared 1,000 hectares of land to be handed over to former GAM members who receive amnesties.
"The measure is part of the peace agreement to be signed in Helsinki, which it is hoped will bring lasting peace in Aceh after decades of fighting," said Bireuen Regent Mustafa Gelanggang.
Each GAM family would get two hectares of land, which they could use for establishing cacao and oil palm plantations. The land is located in Pelimbang near Jeunib district, Bireuen regency.
Some 500 hectares will be handed over to the first batch of GAM members with agricultural backgrounds and whose families had fallen victim to the tsunami. "The land will be privately owned by the families of former GAM members," said Mustafa.