Lost sympathy for GAM

Lost sympathy for GAM

From Kontan

I was still a university student when the New Order regime
collapsed. I was then "against" the government and believed that
the uprisings in the regions, including the ongoing on in Aceh by
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) reflected a rejection of the then
government as a result of the government's unfair treatment of
the regions.

At first I sympathized with GAM, especially because the
security agencies committed violence in Aceh when this province
was still a military operation region.

However, I began to lose my sympathy for GAM when Ersa
Siregar, an RCTI journalist, was killed in Aceh. I have lost more
sympathy for this movement following government military claims
that after the tsunami disaster, GAM allegedly attempted to seize
relief aid intended for the tsunami victims. I wonder whether GAM
members are really Acehnese?

I hope the Indonesian government can quickly settle this Aceh
question so peace will again return to Aceh, a province better
known as the Veranda of Mecca.

SHOLEH MUBHAKTI

Jakarta