Govt seeks action against GAM

Govt seeks action against GAM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri will send a special team to
Stockholm this week to try and convince Sweden to take action
against Aceh rebel leaders who have obtained Swedish citizenship.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Monday
that the team, led by the President's special envoy Ali Alatas,
would provide evidence of the GAM leaders' involvement in
separatist and terrorist acts in Indonesia.

"We are giving (Sweden) another chance and will send the team
as soon as possible, to provide them with the evidence they
requested," Hassan said after a Cabinet meeting.

Stockholm has rejected Jakarta's requests to take action
against GAM leaders Hasan Tiro, Zaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmood,
saying the three have not broken any Swedish laws.

In response, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has drawn
up several options, including downgrading, freezing or cutting
bilateral ties with Sweden.

Hassan said Sweden had asked Indonesia to provide evidence of
crimes committed by the GAM leaders.

"They (Sweden) admit that the GAM leaders are responsible for
these acts of violence, but they need more concrete evidence, so
we have to convince them," Hassan said.

The United Nations Declaration on the Principles of
International Law concerning Friendly Relations States underlines
that a sovereign country had the obligation to prevent its
citizens from creating problems in another country.

Meanwhile, Sweden closed its embassy in Jakarta on Monday
after receiving an e-mail threat, Swedish officials said.

"We have today received by e-mail a specific threat against
Swedish citizens and Swedish interests. At the present we do not
know who is behind the threat, but advise everyone to exercise
caution," a message posted on the web page of the Swedish Embassy
in Jakarta read.

"The embassy will remain closed until further notice," it
said.

Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said the Swedish
Embassy had informed the foreign ministry office of the closure
of its mission in Jakarta.

"They informed us about the perceived threats and we have
ensured them that we will carry out our responsibility to protect
foreign diplomatic missions here," Marty told The Jakarta Post.

The Jakarta Police, according to Marty, also have been
informed and have taken steps to ensure the safety of the
embassy.