Minister regrets GAM's rejection of dialog
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed regret on Saturday for the intractable stance of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
He was referring to a statement by GAM rejecting the government's proposals to resolve the problems in Aceh, including returning to the negotiating table.
"I am concerned with the statement by GAM leader (Tengku Abdullah Syafiie), who did not respond positively to the government's proposal for a dialog.
"They cannot blame the Indonesian government if we do not find, through dialog, a peaceful solution to the problems in Aceh," Susilo said during a media conference after chairing a coordination meeting on political, social and security affairs.
Present at the meeting were Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja, Minister of Defense Mahfud MD, State Intelligence Body chief Arie J. Kumaat, the chiefs of staff of the Air Force, Navy and Army, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro, outgoing Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman and the chief of the Bukit Barisan Military Command overseeing Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Riau, Maj. Gen. I.G. Purnawa.
GAM's armed commander Tengku Abdullah Syafiie has repeatedly asserted that GAM welcomes talks, particularly those mediated by the Swiss-based Henry Dunant Center.
But Abdullah accused security forces of violating a cease-fire agreement, saying both the police and military continued to launch "law-and-order operations" in Aceh.
"We have gone on the offensive in response to security operations in villages which ended up taking the lives of civilians," Abdullah said in a recent interview.
The commander accused Jakarta of "being half-heartedly in its efforts (to settle the dispute) at the negotiating table".
Susilo, however, said the government would continue to pursue a dialog with GAM for the sake of the Acehnese. He said Jakarta wanted to prevent any further violence and loss of innocent lives.
Earlier on Friday, Maj. Gen. Purnawa said about 302 Acehnese youth, who had been trained by GAM in West Aceh regency, had voluntarily surrendered to the 320 Infantry Battalion/White Rhinoceros.
"We have granted them amnesty and released them. They represent the people of Aceh who do not want any more violence, just peace there," Purnawa said at the Army's Special Force (Kopassus)'s Education Unit in Batujajar, Bandung, West Java.
Back in Aceh, a fresh round of violence left at least four people dead in separate incidents in the regencies of Pidie, South Aceh, West Aceh and Banda Aceh, officials and humanitarian activists said.
In restive Pidie regency, a 25-year-old man, Abubakar M. Diah, was found dead with gunshot wounds in Seunong village, Meuredue district on Friday, the spokesman of the police's Cinta Meunasah II Operation, Comr. Sudarsono, told The Jakarta Post by phone from Banda Aceh.
A local journalist said humanitarian activists were demanding that Aceh Police chief Brig. Gen. Chaerul Rasyid investigate the incident, as the victim was taken into custody by the police's Mobile Brigade prior to his death.
In South Aceh, a local resident, Ibrahim, was found dead with gunshot wounds in Kampung Baru village in Labuhan Haji district on Friday.
Another local, Ibnu Abbas, was found dead with bullet wounds in Keude Simpang village, Seunagan district, West Aceh, later on Friday.
In Banda Aceh, Sabri, 35, was found dead near Syiah Kuala University with severe slash wounds and burns. He was missing for two days before his body was found on Friday, the victim's wife said. (02/50/51/edt)