Military tells GAM to avoid celebrations

Military tells GAM to avoid celebrations

The Jakarta Post, Medan/Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has warned former Aceh combatants
against celebrating the anniversary of their organization, saying
it would not be in accordance with the spirit of the peace
agreement they signed in August.

Aceh military commander Maj. Gen. Supiadin Adi Saputra said in
Medan on Monday that the plan to hold the celebration would
reflect the former rebels' half-hearted acceptance of the peace
deal, which requires them to drop their long-held demand for
independence.

Supiadin said the plan was discussed during a regular meeting
with representatives of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) and
Free Aceh Movement (GAM), in which he expressed his objections.

"TNI has no right to ban GAM from organizing the celebration,
but I hope they reconsider it. If it involves the institution,
then the independence demand is still in their minds," Supiadin
said on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the induction of new
Bukit Barisan Military commander Maj. Gen. Liliek AS Sumaryo, who
replaces Maj. Gen. Tri Tamtomo.

Visiting GAM leader Bakhtiar Abdullah said the celebration
would go ahead as scheduled on Sunday, and top brass from the
organization were still discussing the format of the event.

A group of Acehnese led by Hassan Tiro founded GAM and
declared their fight for an independent state on Dec. 4, 1976.

"The celebration will not go against the peace agreement.
Instead we will promote peace and call on GAM members to show
their commitment to the agreement during the event," Bakhtiar, a
GAM leader in exile, said by phone.

He said no Indonesian institution was authorized to ban the
celebration as GAM were no longer waging a campaign for an
independent state.

GAM leaders will decide whether the celebration will take
place in Banda Aceh or simultaneously across the province,
according to Bakhtiar.

In Jakarta, the House of Representatives and the government
agreed that GAM was not allowed to celebrate its anniversary if
it involved flag raisings or displays of its symbols.

"Any celebration that bears GAM properties, such as flags or
symbols, is strictly forbidden, particularly if they raise the
spirit of separatism," said Coordinating Minister for Politics,
Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto said during a
hearing with the House's Commission I on defense on Monday.

In their conclusion, the lawmakers suggested that the
government ban any celebration of GAM's anniversary on the
grounds that it would reignite the spirit of separatism.

Widodo also insisted that GAM submit the names of some 3,000
former combatants for administrative purposes before the
government disburses Rp 1 million (US$100) in monthly allowances
for each of them, starting in January. The assistance is being
given to help them reintegrate into society, as stipulated in the
Helsinki peace agreement.