Nasi island for GAM detention center

Nasi island for GAM detention center

The Aceh martial law administration has chosen Nasi island, just
north of the provincial capital Banda Aceh, as the center for
processing detainees from the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
before they face trial.

Indonesian Military's (TNI) chief of general affairs Lt. Gen.
Djamari Chaniago told journalists in Banda Aceh that the center
on the island, covering an area of 22 hectares, would be able to
handle 1,000 detainees.

"It is to anticipate the increasing number of detainees in the
future," he said, adding that he expected the center to be
operational within two months.

Djamari explained that thus far, a total of 140 GAM members
had been arrested or surrendered to the military.

"So, we need a special place that can accommodate around 1,000
people," he said.

Nasi island used to be a GAM stronghold and was the target of
a massive combined attack by the Navy, Army and Air Force last
month.

The island, measuring about 100 square kilometers, has around
6,500 residents. Most of the residents are farmers or fishermen.

The detention center on Nasi island would be the first of its
kind in the country, likely resembling Guantanamo Bay in Cuba
which the United States has been using to process mostly
al-Qaeda-linked suspects. -- JP