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