Govt prepares amnesty data as Helsinki peace deal near

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.