`I wonder why they're loyal to their leader'

As the deadline for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to drop its demand for independence has passed, full-scale conflict between the military and the separatists will likely erupt. An Acehnese who lives in Jakarta told The Jakarta Post why he supported the separatist movement, while others had different ideas.

Agam, not his real name, 20, is a shop attendant in South Jakarta. He lives with a relative in Bekasi:

Personally, I agree with the separatist movement. But it doesn't necessarily mean that I belong to the movement.

I don't know, but frankly I wish Aceh was independent and separated from the country.

If Aceh gets its freedom I believe the resource-rich Aceh will make its people prosper so that I won't need to go to Jakarta to work.

I disagree with the police here who blame GAM for the recent bombings in the city. It's not true at all.

I don't believe that they were behind the bombing. They are just scapegoats.

I think the government is over the top in this case.

Anyway, I disagree with the military operation because it will only destroy the lives of innocent people.

Sofyan, not his real name, 44, is an employee of a private company in Aceh who is on a visit to Jakarta. The father of four children lives in Lhokseumawe, West Aceh, with his family:

It's very difficult for me to say whether or not I agree with the military operation.

Basically, I don't support the operation as I remember how the militaristic measures in the past have traumatized the Acehnese people.

On the other hand, the separatist movement has also made people suffer.

My family and I were once threatened by the separatists when we were seeking a safer place to stay. They stopped my car and threatened me at gunpoint. They said they would shoot me and take the car if I refused to pay them Rp 10 million.

For the sake of my family I paid them and they released us. It happened two years ago. They would have killed us in cold blood despite the fact we are also Acehnese.

I think there are no heroes there as every party is simply seeking personal gain. I would say, the truck drivers, who deliver staple goods and are always extorted by both military officers and separatists, are the true heroes.

However, the government has already planned the operation, so whatever I say is useless.

Natsir, not his real name, 66, is a food vendor who works on Jl. Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta. The father of three children comes from Langsa, East Aceh, and moved to the city seven years ago:

I agree completely with the military operation because I think there is no other way to solve the problems.

The Acehnese people have been accustomed to the smell of ammunition since the 18th century. So a military operation is not something new.

Not only that, the Acehnese people are getting tired of the separatists since they have made people's lives miserable.

I don't agree that Aceh should separate from Indonesia as otherwise the people would be worse off under the new independent country of Aceh. I'm sure the separatists are too ignorant to govern a new country.

Even the reputable leaders of the country have failed to manage the country, let alone those incompetent separatists.

I just wonder why those separatists are so loyal to a leader who has become a foreign citizen. Sounds silly, doesn't it.

-- Leo Wahyudi S