Govt urged to release all GAM prisoners

Govt urged to release all GAM prisoners

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Human rights activists have urged the government to release all
Aceh civilians accused of involvement in the separatist group
there after a peace deal is signed later this month.

The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
and human rights watch Imparsial said on Wednesday the government
should not exclude the civilians from amnesty, which will be
granted as part of the peace agreement.

"There are many people who were tried for subversion as they
were accused of supporting GAM but were eventually convicted of
ordinary crimes," PBHI head Johnson Panjaitan said, referring to
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel group.

He also drew attention to the fate of those who are still
being prosecuted for alleged treason, as the draft peace
agreement signed in Helsinki in mid-July did not address the
matter.

According to PBHI data, there are over 2,500 prisoners and
detainees, excluding those being imprisoned in West Java, who are
linked to GAM. They were arrested after the 2000 humanitarian
pause, and imprisoned in penitentiaries in Java and Aceh as well
as police and military detention.

Many of the prisoners jailed in Aceh died during the Dec. 26
tsunami.

The government has said all political prisoners will be
released two weeks after the peace agreement is signed on Aug.
15, but GAM members who are jailed for ordinary crimes will be
exempt from the amnesty.

Data from the Indonesian Military shows there are around 1,300
GAM members serving detention in various prisons in Indonesia,
including hundreds in the maximum security prison on
Nusakambangan Island off Central Java.

The PBHI said most of the people who had been arrested for
alleged involvement with GAM had been convicted of criminal
offenses, including the possession of illegal arms and collection
of illegal levies locally called Pajak Nanggroe to raise funds
for their struggle.

"This means only a few GAM prisoners will walk free once the
peace deal is signed," Johnson said.

Imparsial said the government needed to be wise in dealing
with the issue, otherwise it would lead to new political tension.

Rachland Nashidik, Imparsial executive director, said many
people had been imprisoned for their alleged link with GAM but in
fact they had been promoting political and human rights in Aceh.

"The government must not grant them amnesty because this would
justify the criminalization of freedom of expression. It would
also mean that those who fell victim to the armed conflict are
(called) guilty people," Rachland said.

Rachland suggested that the government release such convicts
and apologize for their prosecution.

Johnson also asked the government to ensure the safety of GAM
prisoners following their release. "Don't let them die on the
streets," he said.

The government is completing arrangements in regard to the
amnesty, including working on a time line, specifying the
recipients and conditions and seeking legal advice.

The amnesty is expected to restore the political, economic and
social rights of GAM members.