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)