Mahfud dismisses threats of resistance by GAM

Mahfud dismisses threats of resistance by GAM

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. dismissed on
Monday, as a "bluff", threats of all-out resistance against
Jakarta troops by separatist rebels in the restive province of
Aceh.

On Sunday, the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been
fighting for independence for the last 25 years, warned Jakarta
it would deploy guerrillas from its bases across the province to
face increased security forces.

"It is just a bluff," Mahfud said, speaking to journalists at
the presidential palace in Jakarta after talks with President
Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday.

"We'll see how things are on the field," Mahfud said, adding
that GAM had been preparing for "everything" in the past few
months.

The warning, issued in a communique by North Aceh GAM deputy
commander Sofyan Daud, said the group "will deploy all our
trained guerrillas, fully armed, to face the TNI (the Indonesian
armed forces) troops that have been specially dispatched to hunt
us."

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Social, Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on Monday for
the Acehnese, in particular GAM separatist rebels, to reunite
with the Republic of Indonesia.

"I call on GAM followers to rejoin their fellow Indonesians,"
Susilo told the media after speaking at a seminar marking the
100th Anniversary of the late first Indonesian president,
Sukarno, at Bung Karno University on Monday.

The minister also indicated that Jakarta does not want to deal
with defiant elements in the country using force.

"Should such challenges (defiant elements) be tolerated or
ignored?" Susilo said, referring to GAM's recent remarks
declaring war on the Indonesian government.

Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said
the TNI are ready to face the rebels.

"Again, I stress that we are deploying the troops (to Aceh) to
face GAM (rebels), not the people," he said after attending the
officiation of four ambassadors at the Presidential Palace on
Monday.

The general stressed that TNI is the official security
authority of the Indonesian government and the nation.

"Should GAM want to challenge the TNI, then go ahead. The TNI
is not going to back down from its task to safeguard the
country," Endriartono said.

National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said the police
are not affected by GAM's war remarks.

"It's their (GAM) business whether to declare war or not. The
rebels have been launching attacks against the security forces
even before they declared war on us," Bimantoro said after
attending a coordination meeting with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri at the vice presidential palace on Monday.

Similarly, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi
said on Monday that the police would not be daunted by GAM's
stated readiness for "war" with Jakarta.

"We cannot be bothered by statements made by GAM rebels. Our
mission is simply to provide protection for the Acehnese people
from the wrath of the rebels," Didi told reporters.

Back in Aceh, violence killed at least seven people on Sunday,
an official said on Monday.

Spokesman of Police's Cinta Meunasah II Operation Adj. Sr.
Comr. Sad Harunantyo said a GAM member was shot dead during a
rebel attack against patrolling officers in Kedai Blang Idi
village, East Aceh on Sunday.

"The rebel was shot dead during an exchange of fire between
rebels and the security forces," the officer told The Jakarta
Post from the capital of Aceh province, Banda Aceh.

Also in East Aceh, five people were killed in two separate
incidents at Alue Bu village in Peurelak district and Peudawa
village in Idi district on Sunday.(02/50/edt/ylt)