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.