Hamzah Haz calls on Aceh rebels to surrender
Hamzah Haz calls on Aceh rebels to surrender
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Vice President Hamzah Haz called on members of the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) on Friday to give up their struggle for
independence and accept the government's planned clemency.
Stating that the government had promised to pardon those who
agreed to give up the fight, Hamzah said that it was up to the
separatist movement to end the conflict in the province.
"The pardon is our expression of political will to end
conflict in Aceh; it is better for GAM members to surrender," the
Vice President said on Friday in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, as
quoted by Antara.
Hamzah's surrender call came just days before the secessionist
movement celebrates its anniversary on Dec. 4.
Over 1,000 GAM members have been killed and some 2,000 others
have surrendered to the Indonesian Military (TNI) since the
government launched what it termed an integrated operation aimed
at flushing out the secessionist movement from the country's
westernmost province on May 19, 2003. Over 300 civilians have
also been killed since then.
GAM has been fighting for independence for the province since
1976, and more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been
killed since then.
The government has promised to grant an amnesty to GAM members
who surrender to the government.
Details of the amnesty scheme, however, are being discussed by
the government and are expected to be completed in four months as
they will require approval from the House of Representatives.
The policy was announced on the same day the government
unveiled its decision to extend martial law in the province for
another six months, early in November.
"For us the sooner they pledge loyalty to the country, the
sooner peace will reign in Aceh," said Hamzah, adding that the
public should not blame the government for the ongoing war in the
province.
Meanwhile, sporadic clashes between government troops and
Acehnese rebels continue unabated, despite the Idul Fitri
celebrations.
Security officers have also been intensifying their operations
ahead of Dec. 4.
At least three people were found dead in the past two days
following sporadic gunfights between the rebels and TNI
personnel.
Spokesman for the military operation in Aceh Lt. Col. Ahmad
Yani Basuki said on Friday that two GAM members had been shot
dead, while another, Zulkifli bin Musa, 20, was arrested.
One of those killed was identified as Aricadi, 51, who was
shot dead in North Aceh regency. He was one of the most wanted
rebels on the intelligence officers' list.
In a separate incident in East Aceh, an unidentified rebel was
found dead after a gunfight. The TNI recovered 30 rounds of AK-47
rifle ammunition from the dead rebel.
On the same day, another unidentified body of a man with
gunshot wounds was also found in Alur Salawi village, Aceh
Tamiang regency.
"The man had sustained gunshot wounds to his right arm and the
left side of his chest. The remains were taken to the nearby
hospital," the spokesman said.
In the town of Sigli, Pidie regency, an unidentified group of
four men threw a handmade bomb at the office of state-owned
telecommunications company Telkom on Friday.