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

`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