Govt urged to dissolve anti-GAM 'militias' in Aceh
Govt urged to dissolve anti-GAM 'militias' in Aceh
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Aceh Working Group (AWG) has urged authorities to disarm and
dissolve civilian militias in Aceh province, for fear that they
could disrupt the peace process there.
The group accused certain security personnel of mobilizing and
recruiting Acehnese civilians as members of the armed militia
groups.
"The government and the legislature have official data on the
existence of these militia groups which could create security
disturbances during the demilitarization process in Aceh," said
Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, a AWG member who is a noted Acehnese
sociologist.
He mentioned the shooting incident in Bener Meuriyah regency
on Sept. 7 as part of sporadic violence that has tarnished the
Aceh peace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM).
It may have been carried out by armed militia members as both
the military and GAM claimed innocence, Otto added.
Under the peace accord signed in Helsinki, the three-month-
long demilitarization process will begin on Thursday through
Sept. 17 with the decommissioning of weapons belonging to GAM and
the withdrawal of Indonesian Military troops.
It is feared that the presence of the militias could also
affect the reintegration process of GAM members into society.
In response to the militia issue in Aceh, Minister of
Communications and Information Sofyan Djalil, who was involved in
the peace deal with the GAM, asked the National Police on Tuesday
to disarm and dissolve the armed civilian groups.
A report submitted to lawmakers shows that thousands of
Acehnese civilians had been recruited as members of anti-GAM
groups since May 2003, when the government imposed martial law in
Aceh.
According to the report, which was made only days before the
Dec. 26 tsunami, the groups were spread across Aceh, including
the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and other regencies of
Pidie, Bireuen, Nagan Raya, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh Jaya, Langsa and
East, North, South and West Aceh.
They include one called the Red-and-White Youth Movement
(GPMP). Based on the report, the GPMP, based in Banda Aceh, Aceh
Besar and East Aceh has nearly 25,000 members, while 70 others,
including local officials, are in charge at its secretariat.
The data, issued on Dec. 21, 2004, also mentioned that among
these groups is the Front for the Struggle Against GAM (FPSG).
The FPSG is based in eight regencies: Aceh Besar, Sabang,
Bireun, Langsa, Aceh Tamiang, Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh and South
and East Aceh, with around 70,000 members.
Many local civil servants and councillors are among the
leaders and members of these groups.